Seed and Sowing

Time of sowing:

• Early sowing is done in October whereas optimum varieties are sown in November in plains of North india.
• In the hills, first crop of pea is sown from the middle of March to the end of May while a second crop is sown in autumn.
• in vallies pea crop is sown from october to November.

Seed rate and spacing: Seed rate and spacing depends on the

• Method of planting,
• Seeds can be sown in ridges and furrows
• Flat beds. The seeds are dibbled at 5-7.5 cm depth on either sides of the furrow at a spacing of 60 x 10 cm and at a spacing of 30 x 10 cm in flat beds.

Varieties:

• Early varieties: 

                             Closer spacing and higher Seed rate. The recommended rate is 100-125 Kg/ ha and spacing 20 cm row to row.

• Mid season Varieties: 

                             Wider spacing and lower seed rate. The recommended rate is 80-100 Kg/ ha and spacing 30 cm row to row.

Steps in seed sowing

• Pre-soaking of the seeds for 12 hours in water prior to sowing helps to improve the seed germination. Seed coat of vegetable seeds become soft and leads to better and higher germination.

Seed Treatment:

• Treatment with fungicide and bioagents
• Rhizobium culture

Treatment with Pesticides and Biopesticides:

Treatment with Fungicides

• To avoid fungal infection at later stages in vegetables, it is recommended to treat the seeds/ seedlings.

Required item:

• Seed Quantity: As per requirement. Suppose we take 1 Kg. seed.
• Recommended fungicide and Quantity: Bavistine - 2.0-2.5 gm for 1.0 kg.
• Tub/ Bucket and
• Gloves

Procedure

                 Step1:            As per quantity of seed, weigh the fungicide. Say for 10 Kg seeds, required fungicides will be 25 gram.

                 Step2:            The fungicide should be thoroughly mixed with seed.

                 Step3:            Seed is ready for sowing.

Treatment with Insecticides

To protect early crop from insects like pea stem fly, it's necessary to treat the seed with insecticides.

Required item

• Seed Quantity: As per requirement. Suppose we take 1 Kg. seed.
• Recommended insecticide and quantity: Chloropyriphos: 5 ml/ Kg seed
• Tub/ Bucket and
• Gloves

Procedure

               Step1:     As per quantity of seed, measure the insecticides with measuring cylinder. for 10 Kg seeds, required insecticide will be 50 ml.

               Step2:     Mix it with seed in a tub.

               Step3:     Leave it for 3-4 hours in open so that the chemical sticks well on the surface of the seed after drying.

               Step4:     Seed is ready for sowing.

Treatment with Bio-pesticides

Required item

• Seed Quantity: As per requirement. Suppose we take 1 Kg. seed.
• Recommended bioagent:

                   (a)  Pseudomonas florescences

                   (b)  Trichoderma harzianum

• Quantity: 8-10 gram/Kg seed.
• Tub/ Bucket and
• Gloves

Procedure

                Step1:            Sprinkle water on seed.

                Step2:            Mix recommended bio-agent in seed thouroughly.

                Step3:            After mixing bio-agent with seed, spread it under shade for 12-24 hours.

                Step4:            Seed is ready for sowing.

Rhizobium Culture in Pea (For 10 Kg of seeds)

Required item

• Seed Quantity: 10 kg
• Quantity: Rhizobium culture - 200 gm
• Acasia Gum: 40% water solution
• Water: ½ liter

Procedure

             I step: Prepare 40 % solution of Gum