Response of vegetable pea (Pisum sativum) to sowing date and phosphorus under on-farm conditions

A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 1999–2000 and 2000–2001 at Kokriguda model watershed, block Semiliguda, district Koraput (Orissa), to find out optimum sowing time and phosphorus dose for vegetable pea (Pisum sativum L). The earliest sowing date (18 October) resulted in significantly better growth, yield attributes, green pod yield and net returns than 2 November and 17 November. Between the later 2 sowing dates, 2 November was significantly superior. Increasing phosphorus levels from 0 to 75 kg P2O5/ha significantly improved growth, yield and net returns. Moreover, combination of 18 October sowing and 75 kg P205/ha resulted in highest green pod yield of 43.33 q/ha being significantly higher than all other combinations. Phorphorus-use efficiency was highest with 18 October sowing and with 25 kg P2O5/ha. Maximum water-use-efficiency was recorded with 2 November-sown and 75 kg P2O6/ha applied crop.