EVALUATION OF SPRING FORAGE PEA VARIETIES BY QUALITY–RELATED CHARACTERISTICS

In 2008–2010 in the Second Experimental Field of the Institute of Forage Crops–Pleven, a comparative field trial was carried out with 6 Bulgarian and 3 Ukrainian varieties of spring forage pea (Pisum sativum ssp. sativum L.). Variety Pleven 4 was used as a standard. A biochemical assessment of the aboveground biomass of the varieties was made by following characteristics: content of crude protein, crude fiber, calcium, and phosphorus and water soluble sugars. The results of the study showed that, in comparison with standard, Bulgarian varieties Amitie, Pikardi, Kerpo and Kristal had the best values of the analyzed characteristics in the aboveground biomass. These varieties were distinguished for comparatively high content of crude protein and water soluble sugars and low content of crude fiber. At both phenological stages (budding and full maturity) statistically significant correlational relationships were established–positive between the content of crude protein and phosphorus (r=0.503; r=0.436) and negative between crude fiber and crude protein (r=–0.419; r=–0.721), between crude fiber and water soluble sugars (r=–0.573; r=–0.723) and between calcium and phosphorus (r=–0.522; r=–0.536).