Effect of sowing dates and varieties on fresh pod yield and related traits in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) under sub-humid temperate environment

A field experiment was conducted in split plot design with three replications for two consecutive years during 2007–2008 and 2008–2009. Twelve treatment combinations were evaluated comprising three dates of sowing at 10 days interval starting from 31st October in main plot and four varieties (‘Azad P-1’, ‘Palam Priya’, ‘Arkel’ and ‘Pb-89’) in sub-plots. Dates of sowing and varieties significantly influenced pod yield and yield contributing traits. The early sowingon 31st October significantly increased the podyield by 13% and 43% over 10th November and 21st November, respectively. Among the varieties, ‘Pb-89’ significantly outperformed ‘Azad P-1’ and ‘Arkel’ for fresh pod yield with an increase of 23% and 75%, respectively in pooled over years. Significantly better performance for primarybranches/plant, nodes/plant and pods/plant was also recorded in this variety. Interaction effects of sowing dates and varieties revealed that the fresh pod yield of each variety decreased with delay in sowing. Highest fresh pod yield was recorded in ‘Pb-89’on 31st October sowing during 2007–08 and pooled data while the yield was at par with ‘Palam Priya’ during 2008–09. More number of seeds/pod was found in ‘Pb-89’ irrespective of sowing dates. Hence, early sowing on 31st October and the cultivar ‘Pb-89’ was the most ideal combination to obtain higher fresh pod yield in garden pea under sub-humid temperate environment.