Optimization of the technology of growing peas in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe

Abstract

Goal. To determine the patterns of formation of productivity of peas depending on hydrothermal conditions and optimization of elements of technology of its cultivation (mineral nutrition, inoculation of seeds, and foliar feeding) for maximum realization of genetic potential. Methods. Field (conducting a stationary field experiment), laboratory-field (morphophysiological) (studying the parameters of plant growth and development), chemical-analytical (determining the agrochemical characteristics of the soil), comparative-calculation (monitoring the temperature regime and amount of precipitation compared to the average multi-year values), statistical (confirmation of the reliability of the results obtained). Results. Studies were conducted during 2021–2025 in the conditions of the Northern part of the Forest-Steppe, in a stationary field experiment of the NSC «Institute of Agriculture of the NAAS» on dark gray podzolized soil. They confirmed a significant dependence of the crop yield on moisture supply in the phases of budding and flowering. The highest yield of seed (4.59 t/ha) was obtained in favorable weather conditions in 2025. The drought of 2023 decreased this figure in the control to 1.67 t/ha. It was determined that the complex intensification of the technology of cultivation of peas contributed to doubling the area of the leaf surface (up to 434.0 cm2/plant) in comparison with the value in the control. The greatest effect was provided by the retail application of nitrogen against the background of P45K60. The determining factor of the productivity of the culture was the number of beans on a plant. With optimal nutrition, this indicator increased by 39.5% (up to 4.80 pcs./plant), and the individual mass of the plant increased by 64.7%. Inoculation of seeds was one of the most effective measures that provided an increase in the yield of sown peas by 0.35 t/ha, and the use of micro-fertilizers in critical phases (intensive growth and budding) contributed to the additional formation of 0.3–0.5 t/ha of grain. Conclusions. The intensive technology of growing peas, which combines inoculation of seeds, balanced mineral nutrition N30P45K60 + N15 or P45K60 + N30, and foliar feeding, makes it possible to increase the yield of peas by 73% (on average up to 3.72 t/ha) compared to the basic technology, ensuring high adaptability of the crop to climatic changes.