By Hans Kandel
With the increased interest in field peas, plsc.kandel.1.field pea guideNorth Dakota State University Extension agronomists, pathologists, entomologists and agricultural engineer, revised and updated the “NDSU Field Pea Production guide.”
The eleven-page NDSU Extension publication (A1166) is available online at https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/crops/field-pea-production/a1166.pdf
Field peas or “dry peas” are marketed as a dry, shelled product for human or livestock food. Field peas differ from fresh or succulent peas, which are marketed as a fresh or canned vegetable.
A wide selection of field pea varieties exist for producers across the region. A good source of information to aid in variety selection is field trial evaluations conducted by the various NDSU Research Extension Centers across the state.
The most recent “North Dakota Dry Pea Variety Trial Results and Selection Guide” (A1469) can be useful for comparing variety data. This publication can be found at https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/varietytrials or by contacting your county NDSU Extension Service office.
Always select high-quality, disease‑free seed. When seeding pea adjust for percent germination and allow for a certain percent of the seed that germinates not to become an established plant. Planting equipment should be calibrated or modified to allow for seed and inoculant to flow properly without cracking the seed or plugging the opener. The seeding rate will depend on the size of the seed. Field pea varieties will range from 1,600 to 5,000 seeds per pound. A plant density of 300,000 to 350,000 plants per acre or seven to eight plants per square foot is recommended. Seeding pea well into moisture is critical and seeding peas into dry soil should be avoided. A seeding depth of 2 inches is recommended, with a rule of thumb that field pea should be seeded at least 1/2 inch into moisture and never seeded onto the interface where soil moisture meets dry soil.
Field pea is a legume crop and has the inherent ability to obtain much of its nitrogen requirement from the atmosphere by forming a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in the soil. Application of inoculant (Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae) to the seed is an important procedure. Failures with nitrogen fixation have been associated with improper application technique. Thorough coverage of the seed with inoculant is critical because seeds not exposed to the bacteria will result in plants unable to fix nitrogen. Inoculants are living organisms, so proper storage and handling is important.
Field peas are well-adapted to North Dakota, and seed will germinate at a soil temperature of 40 F. Emergence normally takes 10 to 14 days. Seedlings are tolerant of spring frosts in the low 20s F, and if injured by frost, a new shoot will emerge from below the soil surface.