| Crop | Pea |
|---|---|
| Start Date | 2012 |
| End Date | 2014 |
| Principal Investigator | Western Applied Research Corporation |
| MPSG Financial Support | $3,230 |
| Total Project Funding | $166,325 |
| Report | Field-Pea-Input-Study |
Research Objectives
- Determine which individual agronomic practices contribute most to field pea seed yield
- Determine how inputs interact and which combination produces the highest yields and economic returns
Project Description
As farmers look to increase crop yield by adding additional inputs, it is important to evaluate which inputs will have the largest effect on harvestable yield and which combination of inputs provide the best economic return. Studies were conducted from 2012 to 2014 at four sites in Saskatchewan (funded by Saskatchewan Pulse Growers) and in 2014 a Manitoba site was added (funded by Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers). The inputs that were evaluated included seeding rate (60 versus 120 seeds per square metre), fungicide applications (no application versus two applications), type of inoculant used (liquid versus granular), seed treatments (none versus seed treatment), and starter nitrogen (none versus 30 pounds nitrogen per acre). At high yielding sites (Scott, Melfort and Minto), higher seeding rates, use of foliar fungicide and use of granular inoculant all increased grain yield and economic return whether applied alone or in combination compared to an “empty” input package. In addition, with each additional input added, yield stability increased, with the combination of a three inputs resulting in the most consistent yield and highest economic return. At low yielding sites (Indian Head and Swift Current), however, yield response was more inconsistent and economic return was maximized using only a higher seeding rate.