Growth and Yield Response of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Cultivars to Phosphorus Fertilization.

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of varying levels of phosphorus on growth and yield parameters of pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars at Agricultural Research Station, Swabi-Pakistan, during the year 2016-17. The plots were prepared according to Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement that were replicated three times. Phosphorus levels (0, 30. 60, 90, and 120 kg ha-1) were subjected to main plots and cultivars (Meteor, Samrina Zard, Leena Pak and Pea-2009) to sub plots. Data was collected on growth and yield parameters of randomly selected plants in each treatment and replication. Results showed that phosphorus levels significantly affected all growth parameters. Maximum absolute growth rate (3.31cm day-1), leaflets plant-1 (102.61), pods plant-1 (16.43), pod length (9.53 cm), root weight (4.67 g), nodules plant-1 (19.97), 100 seeds weight (40.66 g) and yield ha-1 (5.71 tons) were recorded in plants treated with 90 kg ha-1 of phosphorus. The results pertaining to cultivars revealed that maximum absolute growth rate (2.81 cm day-1), leaflets plant-1 (100.87), 100 seeds weight (39.73 g), pods plant-1 (17.06), root weight (5.90 g), number of nodules plant-1 (18.66) and yield ha-1 (5.92 tons) were recorded in Leena Pak cultivar. The cultivar Leena Pak was found higher yielding as compared to other cultivars under this study. It can be concluded from the research findings that cultivar Leena Pak should be fertilized with 90 kg ha-1 of phosphorus for better performance in terms of growth and yield under the agro-climatic conditions of Swabi District-Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]