Pea Growth, Yield, and Quality in Different Crop Rotations and Cultural Practices

Dryland pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important pulse crop that can replace fallow or be added to existing crop rotations to sustain crop yields in arid and semiarid regions. Yet, we lack management practices to enhance yield and quality of dryland pea. This study evaluated the effect of crop rotation and cultural practices on dryland pea growth, yield, and quality from 2006 to 2011 in the northern Great Plains, USA. Stacked rotations were durum (Triticum turgidum L.)–durum–canola (Brassica napus L.)–pea (DDCP) and durum–durum–flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)–pea (DDFP), and alternate-year rotations were durum–canola–durum–pea (DCDP) and durum–flax–durum–pea (DFDP). Traditional cultural practice included a combination of conventional till, recommended seed rate, broadcast N fertilization, and reduced stubble height, and improved cultural practice a combination of no-till, increased seed rate, banded N fertilization, and increased stubble height. Pea pod number, plant height, grain yield, and N uptake were 4 to 18% greater with DCDP and DDCP than other rotations. Improved cultural practice increased stand count by 29% over traditional cultural practice. Biomass yield, N uptake, and grain protein concentration varied with crop rotations and cultural practices in various years. Seed number, seed weight, harvest index, and N harvest index were not influenced by treatments. Pea yield and N uptake increased with alternate-year rotation due to increased pod number and plant height. Stand count increased with improved cultural practice. Alternate-year crop rotations and improved cultural practice enhanced dryland pea yield and quality