Assessment of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Requirements for Improving Growth and Yield of Pea (Pisum sativum L.)
Keywords:
Macronutrients, Nitrogen, Nutrition, Plant Physiology, PeasAbstract
Nutrient management has prime importance in the production of peas, but poor soil fertility in Pakistan hinders the smooth supply of nutrients, leading to stagnation and a decline in overall Peas productivity. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on various attributes of pea (Pisum sativum L.) under field conditions at Tandojam Horticulture Garden during November 2024. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments: level 1 (control), level 2 (N 25 kg ha⁻¹, P 50 kg ha⁻¹), level 3 (N 30 kg ha⁻¹, P 70 kg ha⁻¹), and level 4 (N 30 kg ha⁻¹, P 80 kg ha⁻¹), each replicated three times. Observations were recorded on various vegetative, reproductive and quality attributes. The results showed that level 4 (N 30 kg ha⁻¹, P 80 kg ha⁻¹) significantly enhanced plant height (cm) (63.76 cm), number of branches plant⁻¹ (11.22), number of leaves plant⁻¹ (58.00), number of flowers (20.44), pods plant⁻¹ (18.89), total soluble solids (TSS) (16.77 Brixo), and titratable acidity (TA) (0.22 %). The level 3 (N 30 kg ha⁻¹, P 70 kg ha⁻¹) showed better results for Number of seeds pod-1 (7.00) and pod length (8.57 cm). In this treatment, floral initiation (days) was quick (30.55 days). While control showed the highest pH (6.95). The findings indicate that integrated application of nitrogen (30 kg ha⁻¹) and phosphorus (80 kg ha⁻¹) optimizes growth, yield, and pod quality of pea, contributing to sustainable production in nutrient-deficient soils.
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