Yield of green peas

Abstract

Green peas (cv. 'Victory Freezer') were grown at five plant densities (52 90 105 182 358 plants/m 2 ) and three soil moisture treatments: natural rainfall, irrigatio~ at flo~ering and pod swelling, and water stress at these periods. Both total green yield and green pea yield increased with increasing density, although green pea yield dropped slightly below 182 plants/m 2 • No significant differences occurred between natural rainfall and water stress treatments. Irrigation gave an 87% increase in total green weight and a 56% increase in green pea yield. There was no indication of maximum yield occurring at a higher population under irrigation than under dryland conditions. Dryland peas matured 5-7 days earlier than those irrigated, the highest density heing 2-4 days earlier than the lowest.Total vine length, full pods per plant, ovule initials pel' pod, peas per pod, and percentage of peas and pods at higher nodes all increased with decreasing plant density and irrigation.Vine length to the first pod and percentage of peas > 11.1 mm sieve size increased with irrigation. The percentage of peas < 7.9 mm increased with decreasing plant density, and the reverse occurred with the percentage of pale peas.Highest mature seed yields were obtained at 105 plants/m 2 • The response to irrigation was similar to that for green peas.Practical implications of these results are discussed.