Lentil-oat intercropping for sustainable production in Germany

Intercropping lentils with oats improves harvest efficiency, reduces lodging, and suppresses weeds in German lentil production. This sustainable practice supports high-quality, ecologically produced lentils as a second crop after cereals or false flax. Recommended sowing rates are 55 kg/ha for lentils and 35 kg/ha for short oat varieties, sown between early April and late April at 4 cm depth. A tine harrow pass five days after sowing aids weed control. Harvest occurs after 120 days. Technical separation using a cyclone, cylinder separator, gravity separator, and optional optical sorter is essential. Shared machinery or large-scale production reduces costs. The initiative is coordinated by Lauteracher Alb-Feld-Früchte for 70 farmers, branded as Alb-Leisa. Related efforts include the ReMIX project (Horizon Europe), and collaborations with the University of Kassel and Organic Europe.