Influence de la densité de semis sur la productivité du pois sec cultivé sous un climat frais

Abstract

Pea production is important in Canada, but this pulse is rarely sown as a pure stand in Quebec. A study was conducted from 1997 to 1999 to evaluate the effect of four seeding rates (50, 75, 100 and 150 grains m-2) on the productivity of two semi-leafless pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars (Delta and Carneval) and two normal leaf cultivars (Bohatyr and Grande) under a cool climate. Generally, when the seeding rate increased from 50 to 150 grains m -2, maturity was reached earlier, lodging increased but 1000-grains weight and protein content decreased. Maximum grain yields were obtained with 138 grains m-2 in 1997 and with 139 grains m-2 in 1998. In 1999, seeding rate had no significant effect on grain yields of the two normal leaf cultivars Bohatyr and Grande. However, linear effect of seeding rate was significant for the semi-leafless cultivars Carneval and Delta. Those results indicate that the semi-leafless cultivars benefit more from an increase in seeding rate compared with normal leaf cultivars. Moreover, semi-leafless cultivars are less susceptible to lodging. A seeding rate of 100 grains m -2 would allow higher grain yields without increasing lodging that appears with high seeding rates.