ABSTRACT
Plant population and spacing for reduced foliage dry peas (Pisum sativum L.)

Mario Mera K.1
 

The response of the 'tare-Ieaved' variety 'Progreta' to .five sowing densities (25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 seeds/m2 ) and two row spacings (17 and 34 cm) was evaluated on an Andisol soil nearTemuco, IX Region of Chile, during two years. In both years, grain yield was unaffected by row spacing and the spacing x population interaction was not significant. The regression analysis of yield versus plant population indicated that Progreta's response did not markedly differ from that of conventional foliage peas. However, Progreta seemed to respond best to high populations when the narrowest row spacing was used. Depending on the year, plant population explained 68 to 72% of the variation in yield. Adjusting a quadratic model to the field data, the following equations (qq/ha) were generated:
Y 17 cm (1984) = 11.3834 + 0.5354 P - 0.0018 P2 N =20
Y 34 cm (1984) = 9.4901 + 0.8025 P - 0.0051 P2 N =20
Y 17 cm (1987) = 25.9777 + 0.3887 P - 0.0016 P2 N =20
Y 34 cm (1987) = 26.5554 + 0.4857 P - 0.0028 P2 N =20
During both years, the number of pods/plant and the percentage of flat pods were, respectively, inversely, and directly correlated with plant population and with yield, at 1% probability. Whereas, neither the number of seeds/pod nor the seed weight were significantly associated to population.

Keywords:
1 Estación Experimental Carillanca (INIAl, Casilla 58-D, Temueo, Chile.