Testing legume crops under project EUROLEGUME Margit Olle discovered that choosing the right sowing rate can be crucial component for certain field pea varieties in improving their yield quality – protein yield!
Dry peas are the most widely grown legume crop in the European Union (EU). Sowing rate of field peas is affected by environmental factors such as rainfall, irrigation, or soil type, as the more favourable the environment, the higher will be the optimum population. Genotype has the most significant influence on the variability. Therefore it was studied the effect of sowing rate and varieties on protein yield under Nordic environmental conditions. The varieties were: Bruno, Capella, Clara, Kirke, Onward and Vitra. Two sowing rates were used: 1. at a rate of 120 seeds per m2 for all varieties; 2. at a rate of 144 seeds per m2 for all varieties (increased by 20%).
Results were showing that varieties with highest protein content in our investigation were: Bruno, Onward and Vitra, while lowest variety Clara. Variety Vitra was too high, lodging easily, hard to harvest and therefore is not recommended for farmers.
INNOVATION: Highest protein yield came from varieties Capella, Clara and Kirke. For those three varieties there is a trend that sowing rate increases the protein yield.
Want to know more? Go and grab your book about legume R&D here:
Olle, M. 2020. Successful legume cultivation in Northern hemisphere. USA: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. , (in English), 151 pp.
