Peas Area Under Cultivation The major pea growing states are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa and Karnataka.
Botanical Name : Pisum sativum Family : Fabaceae Plant Discription : It is a tender annual and vigorous, knee-high vines . Leaves are modified into tendrils used for attachment to support and climbing.The plants bears white flowers and pods having a number of seeds.
Centre of Origin : Ethiopia Pollination System : Self pollinated Chromosome no : 2n=14 Nutritional Levels : Moisture (%)
Protein (%)
Fat (%)
Mineral matter (%)
Fibre (%)
Carbohydrate (%)
Calories (K Cal)
72.9
7.2
0.1
0.8
4
15.9
93
Phosphorus (mg/100g)
Potassium (mg/100g)
Calcium (mg/100g)
Magnesium (mg/100g)
Iron (mg/100g)
Sodium (mg/100g)
Copper (mg/100g)
139
79
20
34
1.5
7.8
0.23
Manganese (mg/100g)
Zinc (mg/100g)
Sulphur (mg/100g)
Chlorine (mg/100g)
Molybdium (mg/100g)
Cromium (mg/100g)
95
20
0
Minerals
0
Vitamins Carotene (mg/100g)
Thiamine (mg/100g)
Riboflavin (mg/100g)
Niacin (mg/100g)
Vitamin C (mg/100g)
Choline (mg/100g)
Folic acid-Free (mg/100g)
83
0.25
0.01
0.8
9
20
0
Folic acid- Total (mg/100g) 0
Peas Diseases Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. pisi): The first symptom of the disease in the field is drooping of the plants followed by sudden death. The leaves may also turn yellow and drop off prematurely. Pod formation is severely affected. In collar regions of the wilted plants, necrosis and discolouration can be seen. The diseased plants can be pulled out from the easily than the healthy ones. When the diseased stem is cut, there is a dark brown, discolored band around the vascular system. Infection occurs directly through the root hairs. The fungus survives for indefinite periods in the soil. Control: Cultural practices like long crop rotation is recommended to reduce the disease population. Treating the seeds with Carbendazim (2 g/kg of seed) protects the seedlings during the initial stages of growth. Spraying the crop with Bavistin (1%) helps to control the disease.
Bacterial Blight (Pseudomonas syrinagae pv. pisi): Cold and humid conditions favour the spread of the disease. The affected plants exhibit water-soaked lesions on the stems, leaves and pods. Lesions on the leaves appear as round-oval or irregular, reddish brown spots with translucent centre and a dark brown margin. Several such lesions may coalesce on the leaves to produce a blighted appearance. On the stem brown linear streaks are observed. A white to cream-coloured slimy ooze appears on the surface of the lesions. The infected area eventually turns brown and papery. Control: Use of healthy and disease free seeds for planting helps to minimize the disease spread.
Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe polygoni): It is an important disease of pea. The disease appears as on the foliage and pods. Infection is first apparent on the leaves as small slightly darkened areas, which later become white powdery spots. These spots enlarge and cover the entire leaf area. Severely infected leaves may become chlorotic and distorted before falling. Affected pods are small in size and malformed. Control: As soon as the disease symptoms are observed dusting Sulphur (2.5kg/ha) or spraying Calixin 75 EC (5 ml/10 litres of water) at 15 days interval helps to control the disease.
Rust (Uromyces fabae): This often becomes serious in humid regions. The plants dry up quickly and the yield is considerably reduced. The initial symptoms of the rust infection are flecking of the leaves. These flecks soon develop into reddish brown pustules, frequently merging into one another, finally bursting to expose a mass of brown spores. The entire leaf blade and other affected parts give a brownish appearance even from a distance.
Peas Harvesting
The early varieties sown in October are ready to be hand picked in 50 days after planting while the midseason varieties sown in November are ready in 80-85 days. At maturity, the colour of the pods changes from dark green to light green and they are well filled up. Such mature pods are hand picked. As all the pods do not mature at the same time usually, 3-4 pickings are made at 7-10 days interval. Picking should be done either early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid quality deterioration due to high day temperatures. Care should be taken to avoid injury to the pods at the time of picking. Yield Early varieties on an average yield about 5-6 t/ha while the mid-season varieties yield 9-10 t/ha.
Peas Intercultural Operations Weeding Weeds compete with the crop and affect its growth and yield. The crop should be kept weed free during its entire growth period. Weeding is done either manually or by using chemicals. Pre-emergence application of Basalin (2-3 litres/ha) controls most of the weeds.
Vine Support Mostly all tall varieties are staked with bamboos or wooden poles. In some areas wire trellis supported by strings is also used. However, the dwarf variety do not require any support.
Peas Irrigation The crop is lightly irrigated immediately after sowing. For proper germination, a pre-sowing irrigation is advisable. Subsequent irrigation are given at the time of flowering and pod development stage. In case of light and sandy soils, frequent irrigation is necessary. Normally during the dry periods, light irrigation is given at an interval of 10-12 days however excessive irrigation should be avoided.
Peas Manuring & Fertilization The fertilizer dose depends upon the fertility of soil and amount of organic manure applied to the crop. For a good yield, 15-20 t/ha of well-decomposed FYM is incorporated into the soil. Generally, application of 20-30kg N, 50-60 kg P2O5 and 30-80 kg K2O per hectare is recommended for optimum yield. Half the dose of N and full dose of P and K is given at the time of sowing. The balance N is applied when the plant is in flowering stage. Ring method should be used for applying the fertilizers. A high dose of nitrogenous fertilizer has a deleterious effect on nodule formation and nitrogen fixation.
Peas Pests Pea Aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisi): It is one of the serious pests of pea crop. The aphids attack from January onwards. The green soft-bodied nymphs and the adults attack the young vines and suck the sap of younger parts of plants. The affected plants become stunted and the pods curl, have rough spots and fail to fill. Control: The insect can be controlled by spraying Malathion (0.05%) or Dichlorvos (DDVP) (0.05%). Spraying should be started as soon as the pest is observed. Pod Borer (Helicoverpa spp.):
The disease is more serious on green pods especially at the stage of maturity. The caterpillars bore into the pods and feed on the seeds. Control: handpicking of the caterpillar and pupae during the early stages of infestation reduces the pest damage.
Pea Weevil (Bruchus pisorum): Adults feed in blossoms and lay eggs on young pods. Larvae after hatching from the eggs burrow into green seed. Control: Spraying Malathion (0.05%) or Dichlorvos (DDVP) (0.05%) at the blossoming stage effectively control the pest.
Leaf Miner (Phytomyza atricornis):
It is a major pest of pea. The larvae attack tender leaves and feed in the epidermal layers of the leaf by making serpentine mines in which air gets trapped and gives them silvery appearance. The affected leaves turn pale yellow, get distorted and crumpled. Such leaves gradually dry and die away. Control: Spraying the plants with Dichlorvos (0.05%) at the emergence of new leaves is highly beneficial. Application of Phorate 10 G (1 kg a.i./acre) applied one day before planting is effective in reducing the larval population of leaf miner.
Stem Fly (Ophiomyai phaseoli):
The stem fly is a major pest of pea. The maggots bore inside the stem leading to wilting of the plants. Control: Seed treatment with Carbofuran (4%) protects the newly emerging seedlings from the infection. Spraying with Malathion (0.05%) or Monocrotophos (0.04%) as soon as the pest symptom is observed effectively controls the pest.
Peas Post Harvest Technology Grading : Generally the edible-pods should be uniformly bright green (light to deep green but not yellowgreen), fully turgid, clean, and free from damage. The Bureau of Indian Standards has fixed four grades for peas used for processing depending on the seed size.
Packaging : The pods are generally packed in gunny bags for sending the produce to short distance markets. For long distance markets, the bamboo baskets are generally preferred.
Storage : Fresh unshelled peas may be kept for two weeks at 0째C with 90-95 % relative humidity. Peas are highly perishable and will not maintain good quality for more than 2 weeks. Wilting, yellowing of pods, loss of tenderness, development of starchiness and decay are likely to increase following storage beyond 14 days. Frozen peas can be stored at 23 to 18째C for one year when packed in gas tight packaging.
Cool Chain: Cool chain is essential during the transport of export quality commodity all the way from the farm to the customer. This helps in maintaining the temperature inside the box at the same low level as in the cold storage. The various stages of the cool chain are: 1.
Coldstore at the farm.
2.
Refrigerated truck from farm to the airport
3.
Coldstore at the airport.
4.
Building up of the pallet in a coldstore at the airport.
5.
Loading the aircrafts directly from the coldstore in a short time.
6.
Cargo aircraft maintains coldstore temperature in hold.
7.
Off loading direct into a coldstore in the receiving country.
8.
Refrigerated truck to the customers.
Peas Planting Season of Planting The land should be thoroughly ploughed so that it is free from clods. The early varieties of pea are sown in October where as the mid-season varieties are sown in November. In the hills, first crop of pea is sown from the middle of March to the end of May while a second crop is sown in autumn.
Spacing Seeds can be sown in ridges and furrows or flat beds. The seeds are dibbled at 5-7.5 cm depth on either sides of the furrow at a spacing of 60 x 10 cm and at a spacing of 30 x 10 cm in flat beds.
Method of Planting Seed rate depends on the method of planting, varieties, season of planting and purpose of growing. The seed-rate should be about 30-35 kg/ha. Pre-soaking of the seeds for 12 hours in water prior to sowing helps to improve the seed germination. In plots where a pea crop has not been grown earlier, treating the seeds with bacterial culture is recommended. The culture material is coated to moisten seed. These seeds are then spread in a thin layer in shade to dry. This helps in quick nodulation and early fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.
Pea Plant
Peas Soil & Climate Soil : Peas can be cultivated in a variety of soil types. However well drained, loose, friable and heavy soils with a pH range of 6.0-7.5 are considered as ideal. Light soils are preferred for cultivating early cultivars. Soils rich in organic matter promote excessive vegetative growth and poor pod development.
Climate : Peas favour a cool climate with an average temperature range of 10-18OC during its growth period. Seed germination is hampered when the temperature at the time of planting is below 5째C. Peas can tolerate frost at early stages of the growth. However, frost during the later stages of crop growth causes considerable injury to the newly opened flowers and young developing pods. Pods grow best in those regions where there is a slow transition from cool to warm weather in spring.
Peas Varieties Early Smooth-Seeded Type:
Asauji Suitable for early sowing, dwarf, green and smooth-seeded cultivar and flowers in 30-35 days. The pods are produced singly, about 8 cm long, curved, darkgreen, narrow and appear round, fully developed pods are 7-seeded.
Lucknow Boniya Dwarf white-seeded cultivar, flowers in 40 days. The pods are borne singly, small, narrow, green, and 4-5 seeded when fully developed..
Alaska Early growing cultivar, flowers in 38 days. Pods are borne singly, light green in colour and contain 5-6 small green seeds when fully developed. Suitable for canning purpose.
Early Superb Dwarf cultivar with yellowish green foliage and flowers in about 45 days. The pods are borne singly, dark green and curved with 6-7 seeds when fully developed. Early Wrinkled-Seeded
Arkel Vigorous growing variety, pods are attractive, deep green, about 8 cm long, well filled with 7-8 seeds when fully developed. It is suitable as fresh vegetable and for dehydration. Pods are harvested in 50-55 days. Wrinkled-Seeded Main Season and Late Types :
Bonneville: A double podded cultivar, plants medium-tall in height and flowers in 55-60 days. Pods are light green, straight, about 9 cm long and 6-7 seeded when fully developed.
T-19: A double podded cultivar. Plants are medium-tall in height and flowers in 55-60 days. Pods are yellowish green, slightly curved, 8.5 cm long and 6-7 seeded when fully developed.
Khapar Kheda A popular double-podded cultivar in Madhya Pradesh. Plants are tall growing and flowers in 65-70 days. Pods are 5-6 cm long and 4-5 seeded when fully developed.
NP 29 Developed at IARI, New Delhi. It is a double-podded cultivar. Plants are medium-tall with dark green foliage and flowers in 75-80 days. Pods are green, straight, about 7 cm long and 6-7 seeded when fully developed. Suitable for dehydration purpose.
Exotic varieties : China Table Purpose Snow Peas
USA Table Purpose Bounty, Knight, Mr. Big, Progress #9, Utrillo. Processing Purpose Alaska, Perfection, Horsford, Market Garden, Advaneer, Admiral.