Effects of planting pattern on pea (Pissum sativum L.) production in dryland situation of Lorestan province

In order to select optimum spatial arrangement (row and plant space) and its effects on grain and biological yield of pea (Pissum sativum L.), Spring Pea-2 line, a 2-years (2002-3, and 2003-4 growing season) field experiment were conducted in Agricultural Research Station of Kohdasht in Lorestan Province. The experimental design was a split-plot with 4 replications. The experiment had 2 factors: row spacing at 2 levels (30 and 50 cm) as main plot, and plant space at 4 levels (5, 10, 15, and 20 cm) as subplot. Increase in row space from 30 to 50 cm, and plant space from 5 to 20 cm, reduced pea pod number per unit area by 30, and 67 %, respectively. Pea biomass and seed production showed an asymptotic respopnse to crop density. On the basis of hyperbolic function, maximum grain yield for 2002 and 2003 years were estimated as 2738 and 1067 kg/ha, respectively. On the basis of 2 years results, the maximum grain yield (1050 kg/ha) and biomass (3001 kg/ha) was belonged to the 30×5 cm spatial arrangement with density of 67 plants/m2. Therefore, this spatial arrangement is recommended for grain or forage production in dryland situation of Lorestan Province and other similar climates.