Pea is grown for both its tender, immature pods, which are used as a vegetable, and for its mature dry pods, which serve as a pulse. They are highly nutritious, providing 7.2 g of digestible protein, 15.8 g of carbohydrates, 9 mg of vitamin C, 139 mg of phosphorus, and various minerals per 100 g. The field pea, a rabi pulse crop, was cultivated over 15.8 lakh acres with an annual production of 8.8 lakh tonnes in 2020-21. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, and Odisha are the primary states for field pea cultivation. The market for processed field pea products is diverse, including split cotyledons (dahl), whole seeds, various snacks, and protein isolates.

Treat seeds with Gaucho insecticide to manage Aphids and Jassids. Use 0.3 ml per 100 kg of seed for sucking pests (Aphids and thrips).

Seeds can be sown in flat or raised beds using broadcasting or dibbling methods at a depth of 2.5 to 5.0 cm. Early varieties are planted closer together at a spacing of 30 x 5-10 cm, with a seed rate of 40-50 kg/acre. In contrast, mid-season and late varieties require wider spacing of 45 x 10 cm. Late varieties are planted along the edges of raised beds that are 120-150 cm wide, with furrows in between. The seed rate for these late varieties is 30-36 kg/acre. Soaking seeds overnight in water or a GA3 solution (10 ppm) can enhance germination rates. In North India, peas are typically sown from early October to mid-November. Sowing after December 4th leads to a significant reduction in yield, while planting in September makes the crop vulnerable to wilt disease.

Peas, like other legumes, are sensitive to both drought and over-irrigation. The flowering, fruit set, and grain filling periods are crucial stages that require careful irrigation.

Applying 22 kg of urea per acre is sufficient to promote the early growth of peas. Phosphatic fertilizers enhance yield and quality by boosting nitrogen fixation and nodule development. Potassium fertilizers also improve the plants nitrogen fixation ability and overall yield. Along with 10 tonnes of farmyard manure, it is recommended to apply 22 kg of urea, 177 kg of SSP, and 33 kg of MOP per acre, with the entire dose being drilled at the time of sowing. In acidic soils, seeds inoculated with rhizobium should be treated with 1.5 kg of finely powdered lime.

To ensure that the field pea crop remains weed-free for the first 40-50 days after sowing, two hand weeding’s should be performed at three and six weeks after germination. For chemical weed control, Pendimethalin 30 EC can be applied as a pre-emergence treatment at a rate of 0.75-1 kg a.i./ha. For post-emergence control, Metribuzin 70% WP should be applied at 0.25 kg a.i./ha 15-20 days after sowing, mixed with 400-600 litres of water.

• Avoid early planting. • Use rice straw for mulching. • Apply balanced fertilizers having adequate N and P to promote better plant growth

• Use nitrogenous fertilizers judiciously. • Monitor the field regularly for pest and consider planting barrier crops like mustard around the field. • Grow tall border crops such as maize, sorghum, or millet to help decrease pest populations. For better control of Aphids in pulse crops, spray Solomon. Before applying, Please check the product label for proper usage in different crops.

• Eliminate and dispose of the infested leaves marked by mines and blotches. • Employ yellow sticky traps or cards to catch adult leaf miner flies.

As per the farmers' experience, for better control of Pod borer, apply Vayego. Before applying, please check the product label for proper usage in different crops.

Powdery Mildew: • Plant resistant varieties such as Shikhar and Arpan, which have been recently developed by ICAR-IIPR specifically for the Northeastern Plain Zone (NEPZ). These varieties are known for their high yield potential, disease resistance, and adaptability to both irrigated and rainfed conditions. • Burn infected pea stubble shortly after harvest. • Avoid planting field pea crops near the stubble from the previous season. • Manage volunteer field peas, as they can carry diseases. Pea rust: • Eliminate all diseased plant debris after harvest. • Implement appropriate crop rotation with non-leguminous crops. • Consider mixed cropping practices. Ascochyta blight: • Plant tall crops as a barrier to protect against airborne inoculum. Powdery mildew can causes yield loss in Pea crop and it can be managed by using fungicides Nativo and followed by Luna Expeience. Before applying, Please check the product label for proper usage in different crops. Wilt: • Adopt crop rotation practices. • Avoid early sowing in heavily infested areas.

Field peas should be harvested when fully ripe and threshed after adequately drying in the sun. The clean seeds should then be sun-dried for 3-4 days to reduce moisture content to 9-10% for safe storage in appropriate bins. To prevent the development of bruchids and other storage pests, it is advisable to fumigate the storage area before the monsoon and again afterward. For smaller quantities, protection can be achieved by mixing in inert materials (such as soft stone, lime, or ash), smearing with edible or non-edible vegetable oils, or incorporating plant products like neem leaf powder at a rate of 1-2% w/w. For fresh market purposes, peas should be harvested when they are well-filled and the color changes from dark green to light green. Typically, 3-4 harvests can be done at 10-day intervals. Yield: With improved package of practices, field peas can produce yields of 4-6 quintals of grain per acre under rainfed conditions.

Thank you for reading this article, we hope you clicked on the ♡ icon to like the article and also do share it with your friends and family now!