EFFECT OF BIOSTIMULATOR RATES AND SOWING TIME ON PEA CROPS

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in 2024 year at farmers farm in Kalniškiai village, Taurage county. The 'Ingrid' variety pea crop selected for the two-factor field experiment was sown at two sowing times and sprayed with additional rates of the biostimulator Fosfix Plus. Factor A – sowing time: 1. Early, after the soil has reached physical maturity; 2. At the optimal time, according to the data of the research, the optimal sowing time. Factor B – rates of the biostimulator Fosfix plus: 1. Not used; 2. 1.0 L ha^-1; 3. 3,0 L ha^-1; 4. 5,0 L ha^-1. The study evaluated the dry mass of the aboveground part of the pea crop before flowering, the dry mass of roots before flowering, the crop yield, and the mass of 1000 seeds. The highest aboveground biomass – 28.4 g m^-2 was obtained when peas were sown early, when the soil reached physical maturity and after applying 5,0 L ha^-1 of the biostimulator. The lowest dry aboveground biomass – 13.9 g m^-2 was obtained when sowing at the optimal time and applying 1,0 L ha^-1 of the biostimulator. The highest root dry mass (1.4 g m^-2) was determined at the optimal time without biostimulator. A significantly higher crop yield (4.8 t ha^-1) was obtained when sowing earlier together with 3,0 L ha^-1 of the biostimulator. The mass of 1000 seeds increased when sowing peas earlier and applying 3,0 L ha^-1 of the biostimulator (265.9 g).