Field pea response to seeding depth and P fertilization

Abstract

A study was conducted at Melfort, SK, in 1998 and 1999 to determine whether seeding depth and P fertilization affect field pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedling emergence and grain yield. Treatments included a factorial combination of three seeding depths (38 mm, 76 mm, and 114 mm) with and without 25 kg P2O5 ha-1 as monoammonium phosphate. While seedling density was not affected by seeding depth at 3 wk after planting, the deepest seeding depth produced significantly fewer seedlings than the two shallower depths at 5 wk post-seeding. A year-by-seeding-depth interaction was recorded for grain yield, with deep seeding (114 mm) reducing yield by 8.5% in 1998, while no significant differences were recorded due to depth in 1999. Side-banded phosphorus fertilizer applications reduced seedling emergence at 3 wk; however, no difference was recorded by 5 wk after seeding. At harvest, addition of P fertilizer significantly increased grain yields on this high P testing soil; however, this response was small, averaging 138 kg ha-1. Results of this trial indicate that while field peas can tolerate deep seeding there appears to be little benefit from seeding deeper than 76 mm.