STUDY OF SOWING TIME AND SEED RATE FOR WINTER PEAS DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

In order to maintain a diverse crop rotation and to increase the lack of protein sources in Europe, it is advisable to include winter peas (Pisum sativum L.), which are an excellent alternative to spring pea sowing. There is a lack of scientific research that would determine the optimal parameters for their cultivation – seed rate and sowing time. This two-factor field experiment was conducted in 2024–2025 at the Vytautas Magnus University Agricultural Academy Testing Station in a crop of the winter pea variety 'Arkta'. Factor A – sowing time: September 7; September 14; September 21; September 28. Factor B – seed rate: 90 kg ha^-1; 120 kg. ha^-1; 150 kg ha^-1. During the experiment, plant overwintering was assessed, plant biometric indicators, root development and evaluation of nodular bacteria were assessed. The results obtained show that increasing the seed rate led to a higher number of plants after vegetation renewal, and in many cases, delaying the sowing time also led to better overwintering. As the seed rate increased, the above-ground mass of winter peas decreased. Delaying the sowing time significantly reduced the number of winter pea pods, but seed rate had no significant effect. Delaying the sowing time of peas and increasing the seed rate, in most cases, reduced the number of flowers per plant. Delaying the sowing time significantly reduced the number of nitrogen-fixing bacterial nodules on winter peas. The root mass of winter peas depended only on the sowing time, delaying the sowing date led to a decrease in root mass.