Effect of various levels of nitrogen fertilizer on the yield and yield attributes of pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars

A field experiment for two consecutive growing years (i.e., 1999-2000 & 2000-2001) was conducted on four pea cultivars viz., arkel, climax, green feast and Olympia in response to different levels of applied N fertilizer under the climatic conditions of district Mastung, Balochistan. Fertilizer treatments (T-1 to T-7) were applied @ zero (control); 25; 50; 75; 100 and 125 kg N ha(-1) plus a constant dose of P2O5 @ 60 kg ha(-1) and K2O @ 40 kg ha(-1) in all treatments (except control). These N treatments were applied to each sub-plot (except T-1 and T-2) in two halves. The first one was applied at the time of initiation of flowering, while the 2(nd) one at the time of pod formation. Results showed that all mentioned components of pea cultivars (except pod length and protein contents) and most of their response toward applied rate of fertilizers were found highly significant (P < 0.01). The maximum fresh pod yield plant(-1) (143.54 g), fresh pod yield ha(-1) (11908.50), number of fresh pod plant(-1) (20.65), fresh pod length (9.06 cm), 1000 dry seed weight (240.13 g) and protein content (223.6 g kg(-1)) of air dried seeds were recorded in fertilizer dose of 100+60+40 kg NPK ha(-1). Results also showed significant differences for all the parameters studied, and cultivar climax were found statistically at par in respect of above mentioned entries (except protein contents). It was further revealed that all mentioned attributes (except protein contents) were significantly (P < 0.05) and positively correlated with fresh pod yield. Therefore, they can be used a suitable selection criteria for the yield in pea cultivars.