Statewide Evaluation of Dry Pea Variety Performance (Montana Statewide Dry Pea Performance Trial) (2001)

Abstract

This report evaluates the performance of dry pea varieties under different climatic and cropping conditions across Montana. Drought-like conditions persisted into the 2001 cropping year across much of Montana. Below normal growing season precipitation was recorded at all sites, with Sidney being the exception. However, Sidney had below normal moisture conditions at seeding and received much above normal precipitation in June. The Conrad-dryland site received only 2.28 inches of crop-year precipitation (April 26th - July 25th), of which 1.53 inches fell in June. The irrigated site at Conrad was abandoned due to a severe kochia (K. scoparia) weed infestation and deer pressures. Statewide dryland dry pea grain yields from 1999 through 2001 have averaged 1,457 pounds per acre (24.3 bu/acre), with Sidney-dryland (1,791 lbs/acre) having the highest four-year average dryland yield (Table 8). Statewide, Carrera yellow pea, with an average dry pea production of 1,919 pounds per acre, along with Eclipse and Victoria yellow peas (equal to Carrera at 5% level), has been the best dry pea grain producer under dryland environments (Table 9). Espace green pea (1,904 lbs/acre) has been the top producing green pea variety (not significant at 5% level). In two years of irrigated trials at Conrad, Swing yellow pea had the best performance, however was only significantly better than Carrera yellow, Melrose Austrian winter and Trapper small yellow peas.