Field Pea - Production and Management

Peas grow well on most well-drained soil types. Fields containing rocks can be rolled before emergence, up to the 5-6 node stage of the peas. Field peas are sensitive to a number of herbicide residues.

 

Certain herbicides are residual in soil to varying degrees and under a range of field conditions.

 

Peas can be affected by seed and seedling rots/blights and should be treated with a fungicide seed treatment. The more blocky and irregular the seed shape, the more potential for seed infection. 

 

Peas can be seeded early in the growing season. Very early maturing varieties are available for areas with a restricted growing season. These varieties generally mature one week before those rated as medium. Yield will usually be reduced if peas are seeded after the third week in May.

 

Seeding rate will vary with seed size and germination. Generally, a final plant stand of 7-8 plants/ft2 or 70 to 80 plants/m2 will optimize yield. See the links below for calculating optimum seeding rates using plant populations.

 

 

1 to 2 inches. Seed should be sown to moisture. Seeding depth should be increased with soils with a low water-holding capacity. Seeding at a uniform depth should result in uniform emergence and maturity.

 

 

Grassy weeds are easily controlled through crop rotation and herbicide application. Herbicides for the control of certain broadleaf weeds (Canada thistle, perennial sow thistle and dandelion) either are not available or provide less than acceptable control. Consider applying preharvest herbicides the year before growing peas to control difficult perennial weeds like thistles and quackgrass. Sowing early, into a clean field, with a target plant population of at least 70 plants/m2 will make the pea crop more competitive with weeds. Leafed pea varieties are often more competitive than semi-leafless varieties.

 

 

Diseases in field pea are seed and seedling rots and blights, mycosphaerella blight and powdery mildew. Disease free seed and seed treatment should be used to minimize seed and seedling rots and blights. Crop rotation and use of disease free seed are critical for mycosphaerella blight control. A fungicide application can reduce the effect of mycosphaerella blight. Powdery mildew can be managed by early seeding, use of resistant varieties and fungicide application.

 

 

Desiccation helps to speed dry-down when the crop is not uniform in maturity or weeds are prevalent. Desiccants will not improve crop maturity.

 

If peas are swathed, a pick-up reel will help in moving the plant material off the cutter bar and onto the canvas. Swaths are very prone to blowing. When possible, they should be combined immediately after swathing. Lifter guards on the swather will allow for cutting close to the soil surface.

 

A Sund, Rake Up pickup or flex header (flexible cutter bar) can be used to direct-harvest peas. Peas should be harvested on the tough side (17-20 percent seed moisture content) to reduce splitting and seed coat cracking. Cylinder speed of the combine should be set at 300-600 rpm; slow the cylinder down as the seed moisture content drops, set concave at 5/8" front; 3/8" rear - chaffer at 5/8" - lower sieve setting at 3/8" - sieve size 7/16". Use high air flow for good separation. Operate unloading auger slowly to reduce splitting and seed coat cracking.

 

Pea straw can be well-chopped when harvested during hot and dry conditions. If not well-chopped, pea straw can cause brunching when seeding the following crop.

 

 

Peas can safely be stored at 16 percent. When combined tough, peas should be aerated to 16 percent seed moisture content. Peas used for seed or human consumption should be moved with a belt conveyor to avoid seed-coat injury or seed cracking.

 

 

Number 2 Yellow is the minimum grade for processing and many export markets. #1 and #2 Green are required for export markets. Major factors in downgrading peas are pale colour in greens, soil particles, splits, cracked seed coats and shrivelled, immature seed.