1. Predecessor
Peas are not demanding in terms of predecessors. It can be sown after winter cereals, and due to the early release of the area after its harvest, a second crop of corn can be successfully sown if the amount of precipitation allows it. Peas leave behind a pure active substance Nitrogen approx. 4-6 kg / dca N. It can be sown after a predecessor of trench crops.
Important: Peas require 5-6 years of crop rotation, they do not tolerate sowing after themselves or in a shorter period than the above cycle, due to the danger of multiplication of nematodes and pathogens.
2. Soil
Peas love structural, medium-heavy soils and neutral soil reaction. Peas do not tolerate excessive moisture, acidification, excessively compacted soils or rocky sand.
3. Tillage
Peas are demanding to the soil structure and require good pre-sowing preparation, as their germination and initial development are relatively slow. Weed competition in the initial development of pea plants should also be avoided, so in that case the last pre-sowing treatment is carried out immediately before or at the same time as sowing. The main tillage may be different depending on the traditions of the farm and the characteristics of the soil, but it must be carried out in the fall. It is important to have a loose, structured, settled and clean soil bed before sowing.
4. Sowing
a/ sowing depth – around 5 cm - from 4 to 6 cm max.
b/ row spacing – the best results are obtained through combined sowing – 10-15 cm (usually 12,5 cm).
c/ sowing density – depends on the recommendation for each variety, usually ranges between 80-100 germinating seeds per square meter
d/ decontamination – against soil pathogens causing a number of diseases it is recommended to treat the seeds with Ditan M 45 – 200 g/100 kg seeds. Vitavax and TMTD or Thiram as well. Unfortunately, there are very few registered products for peas in our country.
e/ sowing time – Young pea plants are quite cold-resistant, can withstand up to -5 degrees cold and early sowing is recommended for the utilization of winter moisture. On the other hand, the new varieties of peas are more drought tolerant and tolerate later sowing dates, so the whole month of March can be indicated as a guide for sowing time, and it is recommended to aim at the first half of the month, but also to keep in mind the meteorological conditions and forecast. Peas can be sown in late February if temperatures are not expected to fall below -7 degrees.
f/ inoculants - it is possible to use inoculants for seeds to stimulate the activity of Rhizobium, but since peas have a short vegetation the effect is controversial.
g/ soil rolling – mandatory after sowing (according to soil structure and moisture).
5. Fertilization
After a slow initial start, peas have a very fast development and reach flowering and maturity in a short time, so they need available digestible nutrients in the soil. Phosphorus is mandatory for the formation of grain yield, however, it is imported as a storage against the predecessor, and if it is not imported, before the main treatment for peas in the autumn 6-8 kg of P2O5 are imported. Although it should not be overfertilized with nitrogen, it is still necessary to apply 3-5 kg N / dka before sowing, this will ensure the initial development and nutrition of the yield. Повече не бива да се тори, тъй като грахът ще стане податлив на полягане и ще удължи вегетацията и наруши зреенето. It should no longer be fertilized, as peas will become susceptible to lodging and will prolong the growing season and disrupt ripening. Of the micronutrients for peas, the most important are Manganese in the growing season and Boron at the beginning of flowering. It also responds well to Molybdenum - as a seed treatment or vegetative. Organic fertilization before peas is not recommended.
6. Weed control
In addition to good field preparation, it is good to seal the peas with a soil herbicide - for example Stomp in a dose of 300-400 ml/dka. Maybe Spectrum or others. During the vegetation, if necessary, Stratos Ultra can be used in a dose of 100 ml/dka against cereal weeds in phase 3-5 leaf and 200 ml against Johnson grass from rhizomes at a Johnson grass height of 10-20 cm; almost all known baluricides have application, another issue is that not all have a registration for peas. Against deciduous weeds during the vegetation is sprayed with Bazagran in a dose of 250 ml/dka in phase 2-4 shamrock peas. A newer generation is the combined herbicide Corum at a dose of 125 ml/dka in the third-fifth shamrock of the crop. The product Corum is a vegetation herbicide and is registered in peas against both deciduous and cereal weeds.
7. Fighting diseases
The most common diseases are Ascochyta pisi , botrytis (gray mould), fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, rust, bacteriosis and others. In general, winter peas are more affected, in the spring the danger comes from non-compliance with crop rotation or very wet years. Fungicides with the active substance azoxystrobin are effective against some typical fungal diseases, and tebuconazole against others.
8. Fighting enemies
The most economically important enemy in grain production is the pea weevil. The treatments are usually twofold - at the beginning of flowering and in mass flowering. They are mandatory for the production of healthy products. There are also aphids, leafroller moths, black vine weevil and various polyphagous enemies. Authorized products for the pea crop are: Vaztak nov, Decis 2.5 EC, Dursban 4 EC, Mavrik 2F; Karate Express; Sumi Alpha 5EK (Sumicidin) - registration for pea weevil 25ml; Citrine max - 5 ml / dca, etc.
9. Harvest
Grain peas are harvested directly with a combine when 70-75% of the fruits are in full maturity. Storage moisture - max. 14% per sample grounded grain. After harvesting the production, if a quick realization is not expected, it is obligatory to immediately gasify the grain with registered products. To follow and observe the recommendations for exposure and quarantine terms of the used fumigants.
Agricultural Engineer Evelina Marinova
January, 2018