Effect of date, method of sowing and seed rate on growth, yield and seed quality attributes in garden pea

Abstract

The effect of date of sowing (15th October, 5th November and 25th November), method of sowing (Raised bed and flatbed) and seed rate (100, 112.5 and 125 kg/ha) was evaluated on growth, yield and seed quality attributes in garden pea cv. Pusa Pragati under field conditions. Date of sowing significantly affected the growth, yield and seed quality parameters. Sowing on 15th October (DOS 1) resulted in earliest emergence and days taken to initiate flowering whereas sowing on 25th November (DOS 3) needed longest duration for both these characters. Plant height and number of primary branches per plant was recorded highest for DOS 1 and the lowest for DOS 3. The yield traits (pods per plant, pod length, seeds per pod and seed yield per plant) and seed quality traits (seed index, germination, seedling length and dry weight, vigour indices) were recorded maximum for DOS 2 (sowing on 5th November) and minimum for DOS 1. Electrical conductivity results also showed that DOS 2 and DOS 3 had better seed quality than DOS 1. Method of sowing could not affect significantly on most of the plant growth parameters except plant height but seed yield/plant and seeds/pod were higher in raised bed method of sowing. Most of the quality parameters were quantitatively higher in raised bed but it was statistically at par with flatbed. Seed rate also could not affect the most of the growth, yield attributes and quality traits but seed yield per plant was increased on increasing the seed rate