ABSTRACT
EFFECT OF PLANT DENSITY ON YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS IN THREE PEA VARIETIES (Pisum sativum L.)

María Beatriz Cruzat L.1, Claudio Cafati K.2 y Gabriel Bascur B.3
 

the effect of different plant densities obtained with four different spacing between rows on yield and yield components were analysed in three pea varieties, cobrette, Early Resistant Perfection and Kebby.
A split plot desing was employed using the three peas varieties as main plots. four spacing treatments: 0.17 m; 0.34 m; 0.51 m, and 0.68 m between rows, were arranged within each main plot. Evaluation was made of yield of green pods, plant population and yield components: number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and 100 seed weight. Correlation coefficients between yield and yields components were calculated for two varieties.
Yield increased with decreased row spacing and higher plant density. Cobrette obtained the highest yield when planted at the shortest distance between rows. The component number of pods per plant decreased as plant density increased; number of peas per pod was not modified, and 100 seed weight was not affected.
Correlation coefficients showed that yield increased with increase in plant density. Number of pods per plant were of secondary importance in determining yield for Cobrette and E.R.P.; for Kebby, the number of pods per plant did not contribute significantly to yield.

Keywords:
1Ingeniero Agrónomo.
2Ing. Agr. M.S. Programa Leguminosas, Estación Experimental La Platina, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Casilla 5427, Santiago, Chile. Profesor Patología de Cultivos, Universidad de Chile.
3Ing. Agr. Programa Leguminosas, Estación Experimental La Platina, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Casilla 5427, Santiago, Chile.