Growing Peas: Techniques for Optimal Yield and Quality

Peas (Pisum sativum), commonly known as mattar in Hindi, are one of the most widely grown winter pulse crops in the world. Whether eaten fresh as green pods or dried for use as pulses, peas hold a central place in kitchens and cropping systems alike. Globally, peas are cultivated across millions of hectares, with India ranking among the top producing nations. The crop not only provides high-quality protein and essential vitamins but also improves soil health through biological nitrogen fixation, making it a valuable component of sustainable farming. In this post, we’ll walk through the key techniques – from climate and soil needs to pest management – that help farmers achieve optimal pea yield and quality.

Origin, distribution, and economic importance 🔗

Peas have a long agricultural history. Archaeological evidence points to their domestication over 6,000 years ago, with carbonised seeds dating back approximately 9,000 years recovered from Neolithic-era sites in modern-day Turkey. From the Mediterranean and Central Asian regions, pea cultivation gradually spread across Europe and into the Indian subcontinent.

Today, peas are grown on every inhabited continent. According to FAOSTAT, global dry pea production is estimated at about 14-15 million tonnes annually, with major producers including Russia, Canada, China, India, and France. In India, the crop is cultivated on approximately 5.5 lakh hectares, producing over 5.4 million tonnes of green peas. The leading pea-growing states are Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar. Green pea straw also serves as a nutritious fodder for livestock, adding to the crop’s overall economic value.

Climate requirements for pea cultivation 🔗

Peas are a cool-season crop, and getting the temperature right is critical for a successful harvest. The crop performs best when mean daily temperatures stay between 10°C and 18°C during vegetative growth. According to the FAO’s crop information database, the optimum mean daily temperature for peas is around 17°C. Germination speed is heavily influenced by soil temperature – at 5°C, germination can take 30 days or more, while at 20-30°C it takes only about 6 days.

Young pea plants can tolerate light frost, but flowers and developing pods are sensitive to frost damage. At the other end, high temperatures – particularly above 25-30°C – during flowering and pod filling can sharply reduce yields. This is why in the plains of North India, peas are sown as a Rabi (winter) crop, typically from October to November, so that the cooler months coincide with the most critical growth stages. In hilly regions, sowing is usually done from March to May.

Soil requirements and field preparation 🔗

Peas can grow in a range of soil types, from light sandy to heavy clay. However, well-drained, loose, sandy loam soils are considered ideal for achieving high yields. Waterlogging is a serious threat to pea crops, as it promotes root rot and stunted growth.

Soil pH and nutrient status 🔗

The recommended soil pH range for peas is 6.0 to 7.5. Acidic soils may require liming to bring the pH within the optimal range. Before sowing, farmers should conduct a soil test and address any nutrient deficiencies. Mixing 20-25 tonnes of well-decomposed farmyard manure (FYM) per hectare into the soil during the last ploughing improves both structure and fertility.

Land preparation steps 🔗

Proper field preparation sets the stage for uniform germination and good root development. The field should be ploughed once with a soil-turning plough, followed by 3-4 passes with a cultivator or desi plough to break clods and create a fine tilth. Proper levelling is essential to avoid water stagnation. Peas are generally sown on raised beds that are 120-150 cm wide, with furrows between them for irrigation.

Improved varieties of peas 🔗

Choosing the right variety is one of the simplest ways to boost yield and reduce disease pressure. Pea varieties can broadly be classified into early-maturing, mid-season, and late-maturing types.

Early-maturing varieties (60-75 days) 🔗

These are ideal for catching the early market premium. Popular choices include Arkel (introduced from England, known for sweet grains and compact pods), Pusa Pragati, Early Badger, and Hissar Harit (PH-1). These varieties typically yield around 30-40 quintals per hectare of green pods.

Mid-season and late varieties (80-120 days) 🔗

Varieties like Azad Matar-1, Jawahar Matar-1, Bonneville, Pant Upkar, and Lincoln fall in this category. They tend to produce higher yields – between 60 and 100 quintals per hectare – because they have a longer growing period. Some varieties such as Arka Ajit and Palam Priya offer built-in resistance to powdery mildew and rust, which is a significant advantage for late-sown crops.

Seed rate, treatment, and sowing 🔗

Seed rate 🔗

The seed rate depends on the variety and sowing season. For early varieties, use approximately 100-120 kg/ha. For mid and late varieties, 80-90 kg/ha is generally sufficient. On a per-acre basis, this works out to roughly 35-40 kg of seed.

Seed treatment 🔗

Proper seed treatment is a low-cost, high-impact practice. Seeds should be treated with a fungicide such as Captan or Thiram at 2-3 g per kg of seed to protect against soil-borne diseases like damping-off and root rot. After chemical treatment, inoculate seeds with Rhizobium leguminosarum culture. This bacterial inoculant significantly enhances the crop’s ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, leading to better plant growth and reduced fertiliser costs. Combining Rhizobium with PSB (phosphate-solubilising bacteria) culture can further improve nutrient availability.

Sowing time and method 🔗

In the plains of North India, the early crop is sown in September-October, while the main crop goes in from the first week of October to mid-November. In hilly areas, sowing is done from March to May. Seeds should be sown at a depth of 4-5 cm, maintaining a row spacing of 30 cm and plant-to-plant spacing of 7.5-10 cm. Light irrigation immediately after sowing helps ensure uniform germination.

Nutrient management 🔗

Since peas are legumes, they can fix a substantial portion of their own nitrogen requirement through symbiotic bacteria in root nodules. However, a starter dose of nitrogen is still beneficial, particularly in low-fertility soils. The generally recommended fertiliser dose per hectare is:

Nitrogen: 20-25 kg/ha, Phosphorus: 40-60 kg/ha, Potash: 20-40 kg/ha.

The full dose of all three nutrients should be applied as a basal dressing at the time of sowing. According to a comprehensive review published in Frontiers in Plant Science, nitrogen is critical during early growth for root and shoot development, while phosphorus demand peaks at flowering. Applying zinc alongside phosphorus at flowering can help avoid P-Zn antagonism, where excess of one nutrient inhibits the uptake of the other.

Irrigation management 🔗

Peas have a relatively low water requirement compared to many other crops, but timely irrigation at critical stages is essential. The total water requirement typically ranges from 350 to 500 mm across the growing season.

Critical irrigation stages 🔗

The most sensitive periods for water deficit in peas are flowering and pod development. As the FAO notes, irrigation during flowering increases both the number of marketable pods and the number of seeds per pod, while irrigation during pod filling increases the weight of pods and seeds. Conversely, water stress during these stages can lead to shrivelled seeds and reduced yield.

Irrigation schedule 🔗

A light irrigation right after sowing is standard practice. After that, irrigate at intervals of 10-15 days, depending on soil moisture and weather conditions. In colder weather, the interval can be extended. Over-irrigation should be strictly avoided – it promotes root rot and uneven ripening. Research from G.B. Pant University has shown that drip irrigation offers significant advantages in water use efficiency, water productivity, and net returns compared to flood irrigation in pea cultivation.

Weed management 🔗

Peas grow slowly during the initial stage, making them vulnerable to weed competition. If weeds are not controlled early, they can significantly reduce yield by competing for nutrients, light, and moisture.

Manual weeding: One to two rounds of hand weeding are usually necessary. The first weeding should be done 3-4 weeks after sowing, and the second before flowering begins.

Chemical weed control: Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin (at 1 litre per acre) within 48 hours of sowing is effective against most annual weeds. Herbicide application works best when the soil has adequate moisture at the time of spraying.

Major pests and their management 🔗

Several insect pests can cause substantial damage to pea crops if left unchecked.

Pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) 🔗

This is one of the most destructive pests. Larvae feed on the surface of pods and then bore inside to eat the developing seeds. Monitoring during the flowering and pod formation stages is essential. Spraying with suitable insecticides at the first sign of infestation helps limit damage.

Aphids (Aphis craccivora) 🔗

Aphids suck sap from the tender growing tips, leading to curled leaves, twisted shoots, and sometimes flower drop. They can also transmit viral diseases. Spraying with systemic insecticides or neem-based formulations provides effective control.

Pea leaf miner 🔗

The larvae create mines within the leaf tissue, reducing the photosynthetic capacity of the plant. Application of Dimethoate 30 EC at the recommended dose (300 ml in 100 litres of water per acre) at 15-day intervals can control this pest.

Pea and bean weevil (Sitona lineatus) 🔗

Adults create characteristic U-shaped notches on leaf margins. Damage is particularly severe when plants are small and growing slowly in cloddy seedbeds. Ensuring a fine tilth and prompt plant establishment reduces susceptibility.

Major diseases and their management 🔗

Disease management is a key factor in sustaining pea productivity. Powdery mildew, rust, and wilt are the three most economically significant diseases of peas worldwide.

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi) 🔗

This fungal disease appears as a white, powdery coating on leaves, stems, and pods. It is especially damaging in late-sown crops or late-maturing varieties. Affected plants become dwarfed, and pods can develop brown necrotic spots. The most effective management strategy is to grow resistant varieties (such as Arka Ajit and Palam Priya) and sow on time. Foliar sprays of wettable sulphur or systemic fungicides like Triadimefon at 0.05% can reduce severity when the disease is detected early.

Pea rust (Uromyces pisi) 🔗

Rust appears as orange-brown, powdery pustules on the undersides of leaves, interfering with photosynthesis. The fungus overwinters on plant debris and spreads by wind. Crop rotation, removal of infected plant residues, and cultivation of resistant varieties are the primary preventive measures. Fungicides containing Hexaconazole or Difenconazole can provide control when applied at early infection stages.

Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi) 🔗

Wilt is a soil-borne disease that can cause 25-50% yield losses. Plants show wilting, yellowing of lower leaves, and internal browning of the vascular tissue. Using resistant varieties, practising a rotation of at least 3-4 years away from pea and other susceptible crops, and treating seeds with Carbendazim are the key management strategies.

Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) 🔗

This disease produces dark red to purplish spots along leaf veins and depressed, cankerous lesions on stems. Under humid conditions, pinkish spore masses appear. Using certified, disease-free seed and spraying with Mancozeb or Carbendazim-based fungicides can help manage anthracnose.

Harvesting and yield 🔗

For green peas, harvesting typically begins 45-60 days after sowing, depending on the variety. Pods are ready for picking when they are well-filled with tender seeds and the pod colour starts changing from dark green to a lighter shade. A Tendrometer – a device that measures the tenderness (and therefore maturity) of peas – is commonly used in commercial processing to determine the optimal harvest point.

For green pea markets, pods are picked by hand at intervals of 7-10 days for several pickings. Early varieties yield about 30-40 quintals of green pods per hectare, while mid and late varieties can produce 60-100 quintals per hectare. For dry peas, the crop is left to mature fully on the plant and is harvested when pods turn brown and dry.

Post-harvest handling 🔗

Freshly harvested green peas are perishable. They should be stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place to maintain quality. For longer shelf life, quick freezing or canning is recommended. Dry peas should be stored at moisture content below 12% in clean, airtight containers to prevent fungal contamination and insect damage.

Peas and soil health 🔗

One of the most valuable contributions of pea cultivation extends beyond the harvest itself. As a leguminous crop, peas harbour Rhizobium bacteria in their root nodules that fix atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use. This biological nitrogen fixation enriches the soil, benefiting the succeeding crop in a rotation. Growing peas before nitrogen-hungry crops like wheat or maize is a well-established practice that reduces fertiliser inputs and improves overall cropping system sustainability.

Additionally, pea residues – when incorporated back into the soil – contribute organic matter and improve soil structure over time. This makes peas not just a profitable crop in their own right but a strategic choice for long-term farm productivity.

What do you think? Given the rising focus on sustainable agriculture and soil health, could peas play a bigger role in Indian cropping systems beyond their current acreage? What challenges do farmers in your area face when growing peas, and how might improved varieties or better irrigation methods help overcome them?

References

1. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1670445/full
2. https://www.fao.org/faostat/
3. https://www.fao.org/land-water/databases-and-software/crop-information/pea/en/
4. https://krishijagran.com/agripedia/complete-guide-to-pea-cultivation-top-varieties-climate-soil-requirement-fertilizer-treatment-pest-control-and-harvesting/
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12541591/
6. https://www.agronomyjournals.com/archives/2024/vol7issue4/PartB/7-4-24-616.pdf
7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8838241/
8. https://seedforward.com/en/blog/overview-of-the-most-important-pea-diseases-and-pests
9. https://www.horticultureguruji.in/pea-cultivation/