Evaluation of Dry Field Pea for Forage Production in Montana (Uniform Dry Pea Forage Trial) (2002)

Abstract

This report evaluates Austrian winter pea variety forage yield performance in pure stands and with a companion cereal forage (Haybet hay barley) under different cropping and environmental conditions in Montana. Since 1999, pure Haybet hay barley stands had the highest dry matter forage production under both dryland and irrigated conditions (significant under dryland), with an average annual forage production of 3,600 and 9,694 pounds per acre under dryland and irrigation, respectively (Table 30). Dry pea cultivars mixed with barley had significantly higher yields than their pure dry pea equivalents. Dry matter protein contents were highest in the pure Sioux Austrian winter pea stands under both dryland and irrigated sites (Table 31). However, total protein production was greatest (although not significantly) for the Melrose Austrian winter pea mixed with barley plots and Granger Austrian winter pea mixed with barley plots under dryland and irrigated sites, respectively. By combining treatment effects, pure Haybet hay barley consistently out-yielded dry pea/barley mixed and pure dry pea treatments (Table 32). Quality analysis, by measure of dry matter protein content, indicates that, although pure pea stands and mixed dry pea stands have higher protein contents, no significant differences in protein yield were seen among treatments (Table 33).