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Title: A Comparison of Dryland Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) and Admiral Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Grown Under Different Row Spacings

Author
item Calderon, Francisco
item Vigil, Merle
item Nielsen, David
item Benjamin, Joseph
item Mikha, Maysoon

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/18/2007
Publication Date: 3/4/2008
Citation: Calderon, F.J., Vigil, M.F., Nielsen, D.C., Benjamin, J.G., Mikha, M.M. 2008. A comparison of Dryland Grasspea (lathyrus sativus l.) and Admiral Pea (pisum sativum l.) Grown Under Different Row Spacings. Meeting Proceedings. Presented at the 2008 Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference. Denver, Colo. March 5, 2008. Vol. 12:107-111.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Grasspea (GP) is a drought-tolerant legume grown for forage and grain in Europe and the Middle East. It has potential value to be used as a nitrogen-fixing crop in rotation with common grain crops in the High Plains. However, the agronomics of GP for our region have not been investigated to date. We carried out a field experiment to compare the growth of GP and Admiral Pea (AP) in 76 cm rows vs. 19 cm rows. The growth, yield, grain N content, phenology, and water utilization was measured throughout the growing season and at harvest. Our results show that the grain yields were comparable for both the legume species. The 19 cm row treatment out-yielded the 76 cm row treatment in both legume species. Biomass at harvest was similar for both legumes, although the AP matured faster than the GP. The GP accumulated more nitrogen in shoots and seed compared to the AP. Both legumes reduced significant amounts of soil moisture only above 30 cm, suggesting that water-related yield drag after these legumes should not be a major concern.