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Field Pea

Seeding

Field Peas

Seeding

Varieties

Inoculation

Fertility

Seed or Soil Borne Diseases

Foliar Diseases

Viral Diseases

Weed Control

Insects

Harvesting

Storage And Grading

Field pea is well adapted to direct seeding or reduced tillage systems. For best results, follow the recommendations in this section on selecting a site, seeding management, residue management, and fertilization.  For control of weeds, please seed Weed Control.

Selecting a Site

Field site selection is key when planning for field pea in the rotation.

PLAN AHEAD
  • Planning for field pea production should begin a year prior to planting for good weed control and to maximize yields.
CHOOSE
  • Use fall tillage or a pre-harvest glyphosate product in the crop before pea to control thistles.
  • Choose fields that are thistle-free, since no herbicides are registered for complete thistle control in field pea. (see Herbicides for Use in Pea, Agdex 142/642-4)
AVOID
  • Do not seed field pea on summer fallow, on heavily manured fields, or on fields that received nitrogen the previous fall. High nitrogen levels cause excessive growth, which leads to lodging, disease, and nitrogen fixation problems.
  • Avoid rocky fields. Harvest operations for field pea are usually done close to the soil surface, and rocks can damage a combine.
  • Avoid poorly drained fields to reduce the incidence of seed and seedling diseases.
  • To reduce risk of Aphanomyces root rot, do not plant peas on fields that have had a pea crop within the last 6-8 years. Consider alternating pulse crops in your rotation between pea and faba bean/soybean/chickpea (all resistant to Aphanomyces) to maintain a four-year rotation containing a pulse crop. 
  • When planning a crop rotation avoid planting peas following canola due to increased risk of infection with Sclerotinia in the pulse crop.  If you plant these two crops in sequence, plant peas and follow with canola as there are more options for control of Sclerotinia in canola.
MAINTAIN GOOD RECORDS
  • Keep good records on herbicides used in previous crops – some leave residues that will injure the pea crop. Always read the herbicide label and pay close attention to re-cropping restrictions.

PLAN AHEAD
  • Planning for field pea production should begin a year prior to planting for good weed control and to maximize yields.

CHOOSE
  • Use fall tillage or a pre-harvest glyphosate product in the crop before pea to control thistles.
  • Choose fields that are thistle-free, since no herbicides are registered for complete thistle control in field pea. (see Herbicides for Use in Pea, Agdex 142/642-4)

AVOID
  • Do not seed field pea on summer fallow, on heavily manured fields, or on fields that received nitrogen the previous fall. High nitrogen levels cause excessive growth, which leads to lodging, disease, and nitrogen fixation problems.
  • Avoid rocky fields. Harvest operations for field pea are usually done close to the soil surface, and rocks can damage a combine.
  • Avoid poorly drained fields to reduce the incidence of seed and seedling diseases.
  • To reduce risk of Aphanomyces root rot, do not plant peas on fields that have had a pea crop within the last 6-8 years. Consider alternating pulse crops in your rotation between pea and faba bean/soybean/chickpea (all resistant to Aphanomyces) to maintain a four-year rotation containing a pulse crop. 
  • When planning a crop rotation avoid planting peas following canola due to increased risk of infection with Sclerotinia in the pulse crop.  If you plant these two crops in sequence, plant peas and follow with canola as there are more options for control of Sclerotinia in canola.

MAINTAIN GOOD RECORDS
  • Keep good records on herbicides used in previous crops – some leave residues that will injure the pea crop. Always read the herbicide label and pay close attention to re-cropping restrictions.

Field Pea Seeding Recommendations

Field Pea Seeds

SEED
  • Use seed with both high germination and vigour.
  • Test seed for presence of ascochyta. If tests are positive use a fungicidal seed treat. If the percentage infection is greater than 10, finding a different seed source is recommended.
SEEDING DATEs
  • Field pea should be one of the first crops seeded in the spring, since early seeding results in higher yields and often better quality.  
  • Before May 15.
  • Early seeding of field pea – ideally in late April and early May – should also result in an early harvest.
  • Peas are able to recover from spring frosts as the growing point of seedlings remains below the soil surface.
SEEDING DEPTH
  • 1.5–2.5 inches (2.5–5 cm), if moisture is extremely limiting up to 3 inches.
  • Seed placement or depth should be checked while seeding to ensure that the seeding depth targeted for is being achieved.
SEEDING RATE CALCULATOR
  • The Seeding Rate Calculator on the APG app can help you determine the proper seeding rate. Download the app here.
SEEDING RATES
  • 75 – 90 plants per square metre
  • Aim for a seeding rate of seven to eight viable plants per square ft. – calculate the seeding rate for every variety seeded, as well as for every seed lot used.
SEEDS PER POUNDS
  • 1,500 – 3,600 seeds per pound
  • Thousand Kernel Rate – 125 grams - 300 grams
SOIL TEMPERATURE
  • 4°C – 5˚ C

SEED
  • Use seed with both high germination and vigour.
  • Test seed for presence of ascochyta. If tests are positive use a fungicidal seed treat. If the percentage infection is greater than 10, finding a different seed source is recommended.

SEEDING DATEs
  • Field pea should be one of the first crops seeded in the spring, since early seeding results in higher yields and often better quality.  
  • Before May 15.
  • Early seeding of field pea – ideally in late April and early May – should also result in an early harvest.
  • Peas are able to recover from spring frosts as the growing point of seedlings remains below the soil surface.

SEEDING DEPTH
  • 1.5–2.5 inches (2.5–5 cm), if moisture is extremely limiting up to 3 inches.
  • Seed placement or depth should be checked while seeding to ensure that the seeding depth targeted for is being achieved.

SEEDING RATE CALCULATOR
  • The Seeding Rate Calculator on the APG app can help you determine the proper seeding rate. Download the app here.

SEEDING RATES
  • 75 – 90 plants per square metre
  • Aim for a seeding rate of seven to eight viable plants per square ft. – calculate the seeding rate for every variety seeded, as well as for every seed lot used.

SEEDS PER POUNDS
  • 1,500 – 3,600 seeds per pound
  • Thousand Kernel Rate – 125 grams - 300 grams

SOIL TEMPERATURE
  • 4°C – 5˚ C
Other Considerations
TYPE OF EQUIPMENT
  • Both hoe drills and air seeders work well.
  • Disc drills are not optimal and may not seed to uniform depths when there is heavy trash cover or in fields that are undulating.
GROWTH STAGES

To understand the growth stages of the Field pea, refer to Field Pea Growth Staging Guide.

See Weed Control for correct application of herbicides.

TYPE OF EQUIPMENT
  • Both hoe drills and air seeders work well.
  • Disc drills are not optimal and may not seed to uniform depths when there is heavy trash cover or in fields that are undulating.

GROWTH STAGES

To understand the growth stages of the Field pea, refer to Field Pea Growth Staging Guide.

See Weed Control for correct application of herbicides.

Seed Quality Testing and Evaluation

Germinating Pea Seed

GERMINATION TESTING
  • Germination testing is one method for evaluating seed lots for quality.
  • Germination addresses the seed’s ability to develop into a normal, healthy plant under favourable field conditions.
  • This testing can be misleading because seed may germinate well in the lab due to optimum conditions being present or to the fact that the seed has every opportunity to develop into a normal healthy seedling.
VIGOUR TESTING
  • Vigour testing, another method, assesses the seed’s potential to withstand unfavourable field conditions by assessing certain factors that influence seed quality.
  • While vigour results represent the lowest germination obtained from the lot, germination testing represents the highest result. Actual field germination would normally fall between the two.
VARIABLES IMPACTING SEED QUALITY
  • Germination and vigour are influenced by the physiological well-being and anatomical completeness of the seed plus its interaction with a wide range of environmental conditions.
  • Seed vigour is affected by:
    • genetic constitution
    • seed size and weight
    • mechanical integrity and soundness
    • deterioration, aging, and stage of maturity
    • pathogens
    • climatic conditions
COMBINED TESTING
  • In years where unfavourable weather conditions prevail, it is best to combine a vigour test with a germination test to determine seed quality and performance more accurately.
  • Be sure germination results include adequate categorization of the seedling defects and the seedling’s ability to survive adverse conditions.
  • It’s impossible to predict post-seeding conditions with a vigour test, so seed is placed under a variety of stressful conditions, simulating climatic conditions as closely as possible, including:
    • cold temperatures
    • wet conditions
    • micro-organisms
    • seed soaking
    • accelerated aging.
  • Under these conditions, the seed must demonstrate the ability to germinate into a vigorous seedling.
EVALUATION
  • Testing for vigour is an important tool if it is suspected that seed has sustained some injury or that the soil environment will impose stress on the seed.
  • Field pea is very susceptible to mechanical injury, such as cracking and chipping, either at harvest or during processing, especially if the moisture level is below 14%.
  • Mechanical injury, such as small seed coat cracks, results in rapid water intake that leads to dead seed cells – this dead tissue then becomes a source of food for invading pathogens
  • Vigour tests must be combined with germination tests to predict field performance.
  • The seed may also require 1,000 seed weight and disease tests to completely assess the seed’s total quality.

GERMINATION TESTING
  • Germination testing is one method for evaluating seed lots for quality.
  • Germination addresses the seed’s ability to develop into a normal, healthy plant under favourable field conditions.
  • This testing can be misleading because seed may germinate well in the lab due to optimum conditions being present or to the fact that the seed has every opportunity to develop into a normal healthy seedling.

VIGOUR TESTING
  • Vigour testing, another method, assesses the seed’s potential to withstand unfavourable field conditions by assessing certain factors that influence seed quality.
  • While vigour results represent the lowest germination obtained from the lot, germination testing represents the highest result. Actual field germination would normally fall between the two.

VARIABLES IMPACTING SEED QUALITY
  • Germination and vigour are influenced by the physiological well-being and anatomical completeness of the seed plus its interaction with a wide range of environmental conditions.
  • Seed vigour is affected by:
    • genetic constitution
    • seed size and weight
    • mechanical integrity and soundness
    • deterioration, aging, and stage of maturity
    • pathogens
    • climatic conditions

COMBINED TESTING
  • In years where unfavourable weather conditions prevail, it is best to combine a vigour test with a germination test to determine seed quality and performance more accurately.
  • Be sure germination results include adequate categorization of the seedling defects and the seedling’s ability to survive adverse conditions.
  • It’s impossible to predict post-seeding conditions with a vigour test, so seed is placed under a variety of stressful conditions, simulating climatic conditions as closely as possible, including:
    • cold temperatures
    • wet conditions
    • micro-organisms
    • seed soaking
    • accelerated aging.
  • Under these conditions, the seed must demonstrate the ability to germinate into a vigorous seedling.

EVALUATION
  • Testing for vigour is an important tool if it is suspected that seed has sustained some injury or that the soil environment will impose stress on the seed.
  • Field pea is very susceptible to mechanical injury, such as cracking and chipping, either at harvest or during processing, especially if the moisture level is below 14%.
  • Mechanical injury, such as small seed coat cracks, results in rapid water intake that leads to dead seed cells – this dead tissue then becomes a source of food for invading pathogens
  • Vigour tests must be combined with germination tests to predict field performance.
  • The seed may also require 1,000 seed weight and disease tests to completely assess the seed’s total quality.

Residue Management

The pea seed consists of the seed coat (testa), the seed leaves (cotyledons) and the embryo axis. The seed coat encloses and protects the cotyledons and the embryo axis (the two cotyledons protect the embryo axis and provide nutrients during establishment). The embryo axis is comprised of a rudimentary root (radicle) and a shoot (plumule).

FALL PRIOR
  • Use of proper straw and chaff management in the fall before seeding a pea crop is critical.
  • Heavy straw conditions can create seeding problems such as hair pinning with disc openers or plugging between the shanks of an air seeder.
  • Hair pinning refers to a condition where the seed is pushed down onto the straw layer by the opener, creating a wicking effect, where there is poor seed-to-soil contact and, as a result, patchy or poor germination of the pea crop.
  • Thick layers of chaff may also cause phytotoxicity to the next crop. 
  • Phytotoxicity is the phenomenon of reduced growth and yields of the next year’s crop due to toxic compounds leached from the residue and/or microbial activity that produces toxic compounds during breakdown of the residue.
DIRECT SEEDING CONSIDERATIONS
  • Direct seeding is usually defined as seeding into standing stubble, but can also be referred to as reduced tillage.
  • Field pea, a cool-season crop, is one of the least sensitive crops to the cooler soil temperatures associated with heavy crop residue. That makes it a great candidate for direct seeding.
  • Even and wide distribution of residue with a durable straw chopper and chaff spreader is vital.
  • To avoid plugging shanks, stubble height should be the same or less than the shank spacing of the seeding tool.
ROTATIONAL PLANNING
  • Proper rotational planning can also assist in managing heavy residue:
    • avoid planting high-residue crops back-to-back
    • include forages in the crop rotation
    • periodically bale and remove straw
    • utilize semi-dwarf (short straw) varieties in the rotation.

FALL PRIOR

  • Use of proper straw and chaff management in the fall before seeding a pea crop is critical.
  • Heavy straw conditions can create seeding problems such as hair pinning with disc openers or plugging between the shanks of an air seeder.
  • Hair pinning refers to a condition where the seed is pushed down onto the straw layer by the opener, creating a wicking effect, where there is poor seed-to-soil contact and, as a result, patchy or poor germination of the pea crop.
  • Thick layers of chaff may also cause phytotoxicity to the next crop. 
  • Phytotoxicity is the phenomenon of reduced growth and yields of the next year’s crop due to toxic compounds leached from the residue and/or microbial activity that produces toxic compounds during breakdown of the residue.

DIRECT SEEDING CONSIDERATIONS
  • Direct seeding is usually defined as seeding into standing stubble, but can also be referred to as reduced tillage.
  • Field pea, a cool-season crop, is one of the least sensitive crops to the cooler soil temperatures associated with heavy crop residue. That makes it a great candidate for direct seeding.
  • Even and wide distribution of residue with a durable straw chopper and chaff spreader is vital.
  • To avoid plugging shanks, stubble height should be the same or less than the shank spacing of the seeding tool.

ROTATIONAL PLANNING
  • Proper rotational planning can also assist in managing heavy residue:
    • avoid planting high-residue crops back-to-back
    • include forages in the crop rotation
    • periodically bale and remove straw
    • utilize semi-dwarf (short straw) varieties in the rotation.

Land Rolling

Land Rolling

PURPOSE
  • Reasons for rolling a pea field:
    • to push rocks down to the soil surface
    • to break up dirt lumps and eliminate dirt problems during straight combining
    • to improve soil – seed contact and promote even germination and emergence
IDEAL TIMING
  • Roll pea fields soon after seeding and when the soil surface is dry – this will also ensure the field is ready for herbicide applications at the correct node and weed growth stages (spraying should normally be done before rolling, if the crop is advanced).
  • If wind or water erosion is a concern, rolling should be done just after the pea crop is up – at the two-node stage.
  • Never roll pea fields in the morning – rolling wet pea leaves spreads disease.
  • When stuck with late rolling and late spraying, when pea growth is advanced, spray first and roll the field three to four days later – if the herbicide has a wide window for application, roll the pea field first, as rolling causes less stress on the plant than broadleaf herbicides.
AFTER THE 5TH NODE
  • Late rolling of pea fields (after the fifth node stage) is not recommended – this may result in bruising of the pea leaves, stem breakage and increased disease levels.
WATER BALLAST
  • Water ballast in the roller is not generally necessary – some producers, however, add water ballast on older zero-till sites to level out the disturbed soil.
HEADLANDS
  • Rolling headlands results in double rolling and is not necessary (these areas are generally much firmer) – the danger of headland rolling is that it will thin out the pea crop.
RESOURCES

PURPOSE
  • Reasons for rolling a pea field:
    • to push rocks down to the soil surface
    • to break up dirt lumps and eliminate dirt problems during straight combining
    • to improve soil – seed contact and promote even germination and emergence

IDEAL TIMING
  • Roll pea fields soon after seeding and when the soil surface is dry – this will also ensure the field is ready for herbicide applications at the correct node and weed growth stages (spraying should normally be done before rolling, if the crop is advanced).
  • If wind or water erosion is a concern, rolling should be done just after the pea crop is up – at the two-node stage.
  • Never roll pea fields in the morning – rolling wet pea leaves spreads disease.
  • When stuck with late rolling and late spraying, when pea growth is advanced, spray first and roll the field three to four days later – if the herbicide has a wide window for application, roll the pea field first, as rolling causes less stress on the plant than broadleaf herbicides.

AFTER THE 5TH NODE

  • Late rolling of pea fields (after the fifth node stage) is not recommended – this may result in bruising of the pea leaves, stem breakage and increased disease levels.

WATER BALLAST
  • Water ballast in the roller is not generally necessary – some producers, however, add water ballast on older zero-till sites to level out the disturbed soil.

HEADLANDS
  • Rolling headlands results in double rolling and is not necessary (these areas are generally much firmer) – the danger of headland rolling is that it will thin out the pea crop.

RESOURCES
  • Resources
  • Links

Special thanks to Saskatchewan Pulse Growers.

Find More Information About Field Pea – Seeding

Field Peas

Varieties

Field Peas

Inoculation

Field Peas

Fertility