Peas

Land Requirements Land to be used for seed production shall be free of volunteer plants. In addtion, the land should be welldrained and with a neutral pH.  
Isolation Requirements

Pea is largely a self-pollinated crop with a little natural corssing. An isolation distance of ten metres for foundation seed class and five metres for certified seed class from other pea fields and fields ofthe same vareity not conforming to varietal purity requirements of certification is necessary.

Cultural Practices

Time of Sowing Middle October to November in the plains, October to November, Fegruary to March in the hills.  


Preparation of Land The land should be well prepared. One deep loughing and three to four harrowings, followed by levelling are sufficient to prepare the land to desired tilth.


Source of Seed Obtain breeder's/foundation seeds from source approved by a seed certification agency.


Seed Rate 60 to 75 kg per hectare.


Method of Sowing Sowing should be done in rows with seed drill or behind the plough at 3-4 cm depth.


Fertilisation Apply 20 to 25 cart loads offarm yard manure per hectare at the time of preparation of land. Apply 50 to 70 kg phosphorus and 50 kg of potash per hectare at the time of sowing. Top dress 25 kg nitrogen per hectare in two doses during early gorwth period and flowering time.


Spacing Row to row 45 to 60 cm, plant to plant 5 cm.


Irrigation Give two to three irrigations at an interval of15 to 20 days, according toweather and soil conditions, before the flowering and fruiting period.


Interculture One hand weeding after three to four weeks of sowing to keep the seed field clean ofweeds in necessary.


Insect and Disease Control Adopt recommended IPM methods


Roguing The off-type plants and diseased plants affected by pea mosaic, foot rot and blight should be rogued out from the seed field from time to time as required.


Harvesting and Threshing

The harvesting may be started when ninety per cent of the pods turn brown. the plants may be uprooted, stacked in small heaps and allowed to dry in the field for a week or so. The threshing may be done by stationery threshers, or by beating the pods with sticks. If a stationery thresher is used, its cylinder speed should be reduced to minimise the mechanical damage.
After threshing, the seeds should be dried to nine per cent moisture before storage. During harvesting and threshing operations, care should be taken to avoid mechanical admixtures and contact oftheseed with moist soil.


Seed Yield The average seed yield varies from 20 to 25 qtl per hectare.