Chapter 9 - Field pea
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Field pea is a cool-season grain legume from the diverse Pisum genus, grown in over 100 countries for dry or fresh seed and fodder. The growing need for affordable, high-quality protein and the role of field pea in rotations for sustainable agriculture is driving renewed interest in this crop. Field pea is grown primarily in rotation with cereals to capture the benefits of symbiotic nitrogen fixation and reduced crop water use. There is increasing interest in field pea as a component of intercrops.
Field pea is generally a facultative long-day plant, with a base photoperiod 12.0–12.8 h, but there are examples of day neutral and obligate types. Vernalisation has been demonstrated in some cases. Cardinal temperatures for development are: ≈ 0°C (base), 25–28°C (optimal), and 35–38°C (maximum). There are three main phenological types: spring, classical winter, and winter ‘Hr’ types that are highly responsive to photoperiod. Field pea features three main leaf morphologies—conventional, semi (afila) leafless, or completely leafless where leaves are replaced with tendrils and diverse seed and pod types. The phenological and morphological types, together with environmental and management factors, contribute to large variation in canopy structure and capture of resources. Canopy radiation extinction coefficient ranges from 0.34 to 1.06, radiation use efficiency from 0.91 to 2.76 g MJ− 1 PAR, and crop growth rates from 5 to 45 g m− 2 d− 1.
Field pea can yield up to 7 t ha− 1 and is usually limited by water stress and extreme temperatures. Pests and disease can also cause significant yield loss. Despite the increasing demand for protein and the diversity in field pea germplasm, the rate of yield improvement is lagging for several causes, including the cultivation of field pea into marginal cropping land, and lagging research effort. To capture opportunities of a rapidly growing market and to compete with other crops, research should focus on agronomic and genetic yield improvement for both present and anticipated future conditions, with a major focus on adaptation to drought and thermal stress. Improvement of seed quality may be important in emerging markets.
Publication Title
Crop Physiology Case Histories for Major Crops
ISBN
978-0-12-819194-1
Publication Date
2021
Document Type
Contribution to Book
Publisher
Academic Press
Disciplines
Agronomy and Crop Sciences
Recommended Citation
Lachlan Lake, Lydie Guilioni, Bob French, Victor O. Sadras, Chapter 9 - Field pea, Editor(s): Victor O. Sadras, Daniel F. Calderini, Crop Physiology Case Histories for Major Crops, Academic Press, 2021, Pages 320-341, ISBN 9780128191941, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819194-1.00009-8.
