Yield Response to Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Genotype, Population and Sowing Date

Abstract

This research objective was to examine the effect of herbicide, genotype, population and sowing date on crop yield and weed growth in Pisum sativum. In 2007/08, cyanazine treated peas had a mean seed yield of 508 g m^-2, 19% more than in unsprayed plots. There was a significant sowing date by pea genotype interaction which showed that in the August sowing genotype had no effect on seed yield. However, in September Pro 7035 yielded 559 g m^-2, which was 40% more than Midichi. By the October sowing, it was 87% more. There was a distinct variation in weed spectrum, over time. It can be concluded that fully leafed peas and semi-leafless can be sown at similar plant populations and give similar yields under weed free conditions and that increased pea sowing rates increased total dry matter and seed yield in weedy environments. Fully leafed peas yielded more than semi-leafless peas when both were late sown. Increased pea sowing rate improved weed suppression.