FIELD PEA

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important leguminous crop which is also known as Matar in
India; the crop is generally cultivated for its green pods. It is highly nutritive and is rich in
protein. There are two types of cultivated peas, the garden pea and the field pea. Garden peas are
harvested in an immature condition to be cooked as green peas to provide a delicious dish, or to
be canned or frozen for subsequent uses. Field peas are grown as a seed crop. The mature seed
may be used as whole or split into 'dal' and prepared in various ways for human consumption.
Pea straw is a nutritious fodder. Dried peas are often made into a soup or simply eaten on their
own. Peas are roasted and salted, and eaten as snacks. Bioplastics can be made using pea starch.
It is highly nutritive and contains high proportion of digestible protein (22.5%), carbohydrates
(62.1%), Fats (1.8%), minerals (Ca, Fe) and vitamins (Riboflavin, Thiamin and Niacin).

Origin
The field pea is native to the Mediterranean region of southern Europe to western Asia. It
is probably indigenous to the region comprising Italy, southwestern Asia and eastwards of the
Himalayas, including northern India.

Area and Distribution

Field pea is one of the important pulse crops of the world. The important field pea
growing countries are China, India, USA, Egypt, Russian Federation and Ethiopia. China ranks
first in the world in respect of production as well as acreage followed by India. In India Uttar
Pradesh is the major field pea growing state. Uttar Pradesh alone produces about 60 per cent of
total pea produced in India. Besides, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar are the major
field pea producing states.
Classification
Two types of peas are generally cultivated all over the globe.
(1) Garden Pea (Pisum sativum var. hortense): It is also called table pea. In this type young,
green seeds are used mostly in vegetables and also for canning purposes. Seeds are bold and
wrinkled. These are generally, white flowered. Leaf axils are generally green. Seeds are
yellowish, whitish or bluish-green.
(2) Field Pea (Pisum sativum var. arvense): In this type the ripe, mature seeds are used as the
pulse (dal). They are also grown as forage or green manure crop. Field peas are hardy plants and
grown on a large scale without irrigation. These plants are also able to withstand frost. Seeds are
rounded and little angular. They have generally coloured flowers. Leaf axils are often pigmented.
Seeds are greyish-green, greyish-brown or grayish yellow.

Climatic requirement
Pea is a cool season crop and performs best at 100C to 180C. Peas can be produced
successfully in temperate, semi-arid zones. They do not thrive in the summer heat of warmer
temperate and lowland tropical climates but do grow well in cooler high altitude tropical areas.
The flower and young pods are badly affected by frost. The optimum mean monthly temperature
for pea is 12.80C to 180C. High humidity is harmful to pea crop as it favours incidence of disease.

Soil requirement
 A well drained soil is essential for successful production of field pea. Field pea is highly
sensitive to water logging conditions; hence a well drained loam soil is considered best for pea
cultivation. They tolerate a moderate soil pH range (6.0 to 7.5). The optimum pH is 6.5.

Crop rotation
Field pea is sown as rabi crop. The most common rotations are: Maize-field pea,
Ricefield pea, Cotton-field pea, Sorghum-field pea and Pearl millet-field pea. It is generally
grown mixed with chickpea, barley, wheat, oats, rape and mustard crops. It is also grown as an
intercrop in autumn sugarcane. Two rows of field pea may be sown 30 cm apart in the centre of
two sugarcane rows shown at 90 cm spacing.

Field preparation
Field is prepared as in the case of other rabi crops. After harvest of kharif crops, the field
should be ploughed with disc or moulboard plough. Where tractor is available one deep
ploughing followed by two to three harrowings and plankings should be given to prepare a well
pulverised seed-bed. Where bullocks are the source of power, deep ploughing followed by two to
three harrowings or three to four cross ploughing with local plough should be done. Avoid very
fine seedbed. Field should be well levelled. Field should be prepared after presowing irrigation to
ensure adequate moisture at the time of sowing.

Sowing time
The pea is generally sown in India in rabi season from the beginning of October to mid of
November in the plains and from middle of March to end of May in the hills. In case of early
sowing, special care should be taken against stem borer. It should be sown when daily maximum
temperature is below 30°C and the daily minimum temperature comes down to 20°C.

Seed rate and Method of sowing

Seed rate and spacing vary according to the periods of maturity of different varieties. The
early maturing varieties are given closer spacing and higher seed rate and the late varieties are
given wider spacing and lower seed rate. In case of early maturing dwarf varieties crop should be
sown in rows 20 cm apart and about 100-125 kg seed per hectare should be sown. In late
maturing and taller varieties a row spacing of 30 cm is optimum. The seed rate should be reduced
to 75-80 kg per hectare. It may be sown by dibbling or behind the plough.

Seed treatment
The seeds are soaked in water overnight before sowing for better germination. Before
sowing, seed should be treated with Thiram or carbendazim (Bavistin) at the rate of 2.5 g/kg of
seed. For good nodulation seed should be treated with proper strain of bacterial culture before
sowing. Seeds treated with Rhizobium culture give higher yield.

Varieties
Aparna: This variety matures in 125-130 days. Plants are of medium height with less number of
leaves. Seeds are white, round, smooth and bold (210 g/1000 seeds). This variety is resistant to
powdery mildew disease. Yield potential is 25-30 quintals per hectare.
Jayanti: This variety matures in 125-130 days. Plants are dwarf with less number of leaves.
Seeds are bold, white with light green tinge. It is resistant to powdery mildew and wilt. Yield
potential is 28-30 quintal per hectare.
Uttara: This variety matures in 125-130 days. Plants are dwarf with very tiny leaves. Seeds are
round, medium sized and creamy colour. This variety is resistant to powdery mildew and rust.
Yield potential is about 30 quintals per hectare.
Pant Pea-5: This variety matures in 135-140 days. Plants are tall. Seeds are white, round,
attractive, smooth and bold (210 g/1000 seeds). This variety is resistant to powdery mildew
disease. Yield potential is 20-25 quintals per hectare.
Rachna: This variety matures in 130-135 days. Plants are tall and erect. Seeds are white, round
and bold. It is resistant to powdery mildew disease. Yield potential is 20-25 quintals per hectare.
Kinnauri: This variety matures in 130-140 days. It is a spreading type variety. Seeds are round,
attractive and white in colour. It is susceptible to powdery mildew disease. Yield potential is 15-
25 q /ha.
Sikha: This variety matures In 130-140 days. It IS a dwarf variety of field pea. Yield potential is
25-30 q/ha. It is moderately resistant to powdery mildew.
Swati: This is a short duration variety maturing in 120-125 days. Seeds are round and white in
colour. It is resistant to powdery mildew and rust. Yield potential is 25-30 q/ha.
Malvia Pea-2: It matures in 125-130 days. Plants are of medium height with very tiny leaves.
Seeds are bold and white. This variety is resistant to powdery mildew. Yield potential is 20-25
q/ha.
Malvia Pea-15: This variety matures in 120-125 days. Plants are of medium height with less
number of leaves. Seeds are bold, round and white. It is resistant to powdery mildew disease.
Yield potential is 28-32 q/ha.
JP-885: This variety matures in 130-135 days. Colour of the leaves is light green. It is suitable to
grow in heavy soils. It is resistant to powdery mildew. Seeds are round, bold and white. Yield
potential is 20-25 q/ha.
VL Pea-1: This variety matures in 160-165 days. It is suitable to grow in hills under unirrigated
conditions. Yield potential is 18-20 quintals per hectare. It is recommended for cultivation in
hills of Uttaranchal.
KFP-103: This variety matures in 130-140 days. It is a tall growing variety. Seeds are bold,
round and white in colour. It is resistant to powdery mildew. Yield potential is 20-25 quintal per
hectare.
Alankar (OMR-7): This variety matures in 115-120 days. It is a tall variety. Seeds are bold,
round and white in colour. This variety is resistant to powdery mildew. Yield potential is 24
quintals per hectare.
Sapana: This variety matures in 130-135 days. It is a dwarf variety. It is tolerant to powdery
mildew. Yield potential is 20-25 quintals per hectare.
LFP-48: It is a short duration, short statured with light green bold seeds. It is suitable to grow
in Punjab. Its yield potential is 20 quintals per hectare.
Varieties suitable for Haryana are Alankar, DMR-11, Uttara, Jayanti, Aparna and Haryal.

Fertlizer management
Incorporate 20 tonnes of organic manures per hectare in the soil at the time of land
preparation. This should be supplemented with 20-30 kg nitrogen as a starter dose per hectare as
a basal dressing at the time of sowing. Drill 40-60 kg P205, 30-40 kg K20 and 25 kg ZnSO4 per
hectare at 4-5 cm deep from seed.

Irrigation management
First irrigation should be given at 45 days and second, if needed, at pod filling stage.
Light and uniform irrigation should be given.

Weed management
The pea field should be free from weeds for the period up to 40-50 days after sowing. The major
weeds found in pea crop are Chenopodium album (bathua), Fumaria parviflora (gajri), Lathyrus
spp. (chatri-matri), Melilotus alba (senji), Vicia sativa (ankari). The field should be kept free
from weeds by giving two weedings and hoeings after three and six weeks of germination.
Fluchloralin (Basalin) at the rate of 0.75 kg a.i. per hectare in 800-1000 litres of water as pre-
planting spray may be used as an effective herbicide. It should be well incorporated in the soil
before sowing.

Diseases management
Wilt and Root Rot: These diseases are caused by Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani
fungi. The symptoms may be seen in seedling stage. Roots rot and plants show yellowing of the
lower-most leaves, followed by wilting. The diseases control by treat the seed with 2.5 g of
Ceresan or Carbendazim (Bavistin) per kg of seed before sowing. Avoid early sowing in badly
infested areas.
Powdery Mildew: This disease is caused by a fungus, Erysiphe polygoni. White powdery,
patchy growth on both the surfaces of the leaf and also on the tendrils, pods, and stem. In
advanced stage, entire plant surface may be covered with white powder which consists of
mycellium and spores of the fungus. To control disease avoid late plantings. The disease can be
controlled by two to three sprays of wettable sulphur like Sulfex @ 3 kg/ha or 1kg Bavistin or 2
kg Kerathen/ha in 1000 litres of water. Give the first spray after appearance of the disease in the
crop and spray should be repeated at 15 days intervial.
Rust: The disease is caused by a fungus, Uromyces fabae. The stem of the plant becomes
malformed and the affected plant dies out. All the green parts of plant are affected. The earliest
symptoms are the yellow spots having aecia in round or elongated clusters. Then the
uredopustules develop which are powdery and light brown in appearance. For control the
affected plants trash should be burnt after harvest. Spray the crop with Mancozeb 75 WP at the
rate of 2 kg per hectare in1000 lit res of water. Two to three sprays at 15 days interval are
sufficient.

Insect management
Pea Stem Fly: The adult fly lays eggs in the plant tissues and the maggots damage the internal
tissues of the stem and ultimately the entire plant dies. Damage is more severe in early plantings.
For control, mix 36 kg carbofuran (Furadon) 3% granules or 10 kg Phorate (Thimet) 10%
granules in the soil before sowing the crop and do not go for early sowing of crop.
Leaf Minor: Larvae feed by making tunnels in the leaves. They cause serious damage during
December-March. For control spray 250 ml of Phosphamidon 85 SL (Dimecron) or 1 litre of
oxydemeton methyl (Metasystox) 25 EC or Dimathote (Rogor) 30 EC in 1000 litres of water per
hectare when the attack begins, and repeat at 15 days intervals.
Pea Aphids: They suck the sap of the cells, owing to which the leaves turn pale and yellow. In
case of severe infestation the plant growth is checked. For control spray 1.25 litres of dimethoate
or oxydemeton methyl (Metasystox) 25 EC in 1000 litres of water per hectare. Repeat the spray
after 10-12 days.
Pod Borer: They bore into the pods and feed on the grains inside. Generally a late sown crop is
damaged more by this pest. For control spray crop with 500 ml Monocrotophos 36 SL or 200 ml
Fenvalerate 20 EC or 125 ml Cypermetharin 25 EC or 1 kg Carbaryl 50 WP in 1000 litres of
water per hectare. Picking of green pods should be done 15 days after spraying.
Thrips: This insect causes the yield loss due to sucking of cell sap from plant parts. For control
of this pest spray 150 ml cypermethrin 25 EC in 1000 litres of water per hectare.

Harvesting, threshing and storage:

Field peas should be harvested when they are fully ripe and threshed after sufficient
drying in the sun. The clean seed should be sun dried for 3-4 days to reduce their moisture
content up to 9-10% to be safely stored in appropriate bins. To avoid further development of
bruchids and other storage pests, it is recommended to fumigate the storage material before onset
of monsoon and again after the monsoon with ALP @ 1-2 tablets per tonne. The small quantity
of the produce can also be protected by mixing inert material (soft stone, lime, ash, etc) or by
smearing edible/non-edible vegetable oils or by mixing plant products like neem leaf powder at
the rate of 1-2% w/w basis.

Yield:
With improved package of practices, field peas can produce 20-25qtls of grain and straw
per ha (irrigated) and 10-15 qtls grains per ha (rain fed) condition.