Leguminous Vegetable Cultivation and Seed Production S ...

Early varieties can be sown from mid-October to the first week of November while midseason
varieties can be sown from the last week of October to mid-November. Late varieties can be
sown up to the end of November.
Seed Rate:
Use 70 to 75 kg/ha for late varieties and 100 kg/ha for early varieties. For the variety Arkel
the seed rate can be increased up to 125 kg/ha.
Inoculation:
Inoculation of pea seeds with pea nodule bacterium culture is recommended when peas are
planted for the first time and also when the crop is to be grown on poor soil. Emulsify the culture
material in a small quantity of 10 % sugar or gur solution, sufficient to moisten the seed. Heap the
seed on a clean floor and moisten and mix thoroughly with the solution. Then spread moistened
seed in a thin layer in the shade to dry and sow in the field in the evening or on a cloudy day.
Spacing:
Use 30 cm for row-to-row spacing for early and 45 cm for mid-season and late varieties.
Within-row continuous sowing is done and later on the plants can be spaced at adistanoe of 2 to
ljozo.l1labor is cheap and adequate then sowing with odibbler with spikes at 3"x7" distance is
preferred.
Fertilizer Use:
A high dose of nitrogenous fertilizer may have a deleterious effect on nodule formation and
nitrogen fixation. A small dose of nitrogenous fertilizer ( about 25 N/ha ) is necessary to stimulate
early growth ,of legumes. Phosphates increase yield and improve the quality of peas, whereas
potassium appears to increase the yield and nitrogen fixation ability of the legumes. Apply about
20 t FYM/ha, 125 kg CAN/ha or 60-65 kg urea/ha, 420 kg Superphosphate/ha, and 100 kg to
100 kg Murate of Potash /ha during field preparation.
Irrigation:
For proper germination presoaking is advisable. If the soil moisture is less at the time of
sowing, a light irrigation may be necessary after planting to ensure proper germination. Thereafter,
during the dry period, light irrigation may be given at an interval of 10-15 days. One or two
irrigations at the time of flowering and fruit-setting are essential. Light irrigation during frosty
weather is also essential to protect the developing flowers and pods from frost damage. Irrigation
with sprinkler is very much recommended.
Isolation:
Since garden pea is a self-pollinated crop, not much contamination is expected in producing
pure seeds of a variety. Consequently the only isolation necessary is to have a planting space far
enough to prevent mechanical mixtures at planting or harvesting time. However, when producing
the foundation seed, two different varieties should be kept about 20 m.
Roguing:
The term "rogue" as used today applies to any off-type plant. Rogues may originate as a
result of mechanical mixture, volunteer mixture from earlier plantings, natural crossing or
morphological changes caused by mutations.
2