Multi-environment growth and yield analysis of novel food-grade winter field peas compared to Austrian winter pea and wheat

Authors: Adams, Curtis

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/2026
Publication Date: 3/4/2026
Citation: Adams, C.B. 2026. Multi-environment growth and yield analysis of novel food-grade winter field peas compared to Austrian winter pea and wheat. Crop Science. 66(2).Article e70248. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70248.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70248

Interpretive Summary: There is increased interest worldwide in growing winter field peas in areas where spring peas have historically dominated. This includes the U.S., where winter field pea varieties with food-grade grain and higher yield potential were recently released for the first time. In this multi-environment field study, crop yield, growth, and other traits of the novel germplasm were compared to Austrian winter peas (AWP) and wheat to inform ongoing crop improvement and cropping system management. The food-quality peas do not yet have a significant grain yield advantage over AWP, though they have greater yield stability. Agronomic, physiological, phenological, and environmental factors affecting yield were identified for variety improvement. Peas can be rotated with wheat if sufficiently profitable. Wheat currently yields about 1.6 times more than peas, though peas typically bring higher prices. Thus, this new crop has great potential as a rotational crop in winter cereal-based cropping systems.

Technical Abstract: Worldwide production of field peas (Pisum sativum L.) with food-quality grain have historically come primarily from spring-adapted varieties, though novel winter-adapted varieties have recently been released that exceed spring pea yield potential in many environments. Research analyzing yield, yield components, crop growth, and phenology of the novel germplasm in conjunction with environmental variables is lacking, which is needed to guide ongoing variety and management practice improvement. A comparison of yield of the novel peas to wheat is also needed to provide agronomic and economic context for crop rotation management. The objectives of this research were to provide such research through a multi-environment trial, comparing two food-grade peas (MiCa and Klondike) to Austrian winter pea (AWP) and wheat. The food-quality peas and AWP were similar overall in biomass production and most yield traits, with the most distinctive differences being the small seed size of AWP and greatly improved yield stability of the food peas. One food-quality variety had reduced plant establishment with early onset of winter cold, likely attributable to poor seedling vigor rather than cold sensitivity. There was no evidence, in terms of plant density or biomass, that the food-grade pea varieties differed from AWP in cold hardiness following extreme cold events. Yield component analysis showed an especially close relationship between grains m-2 and yield, but there was relatively low broad-sense heritability for all yield component traits. As indicated in other reports, grain yield in this pea germplasm may be most linked to plant biomass productivity. Among environmental-phenological variables analyzed, system water input was the strongest driver of yield. Over the core of the reproductive phase, increased growing degree day accumulation was associated with higher yield, while high temperatures were associated with lower yield. Wheat averaged 1.6 times more yield than peas, with a similar yield gap between the crops across environments differing in yield potential, though food-grade peas typically bring higher grain prices. Thus, this new crop has great potential as a rotational crop in winter cereal-based cropping systems, especially those in which alternative crop options have been limited.