Statewide Pea Variety Trial

Objective:                   

To evaluate pea cultivars for yield and agronomic performance in Northwestern Montana.

Results:

No significant difference was observed for yellow pea yield. Mean yield was 19.2 bu/A and ranged from 13.8 bu/A for Mystique to 24.5 bu/A for Nette 2010 (Table 2). Statistical difference was observed for flowering, with an average occurrence at 171 Julian days (June 20); the earliest was Universal Yellow at 167 days (June 16); the latest was CDC Amarillo at 174 days (June 23). Significant difference in height at 50% flowering averaged 15.1 inches, and ranged from 11.6 inches for Delta to 17.6 inches for Jetset. Delta remained the shortest variety at pod fill and at physiological maturity while Jetset remained the tallest. No statistical difference was observed for test weight, which averaged 64.6 lb/bu. Thousand kernel weight was significant with an average of 188.2 grams and ranged from 160.3 grams for CDC Meadow to 215.0 grams for Mystique.     

No significant difference was observed for green pea yield, which averaged 19.3 bu/A (Table 3). Days to flowering was significant among cultivars with an average occurrence at 171 Julian days (June 20). Height at flowering ranged from 11.4 inches for Arcadia to 16.9 inches for Viper. Viper was the tallest variety until physiological maturity. Test weight averaged 63.8 lb/bu with no significant difference observed amongst cultivars. Significant difference was observed for thousand kernel weight and ranged from 155.5 grams for Aragorn to 205.9 grams for Majoret.

Summary:

Pea yields on average were down from last year by more than 50 bu/A. The nursery was planted under rainfed condition and there was an extreme moisture stress (drought year) that affected low yields.