EFFECTS OF ROW SPACING AND SEEDING RATE ON HAY AND SEED YIELD OF EASTERN ANATOLIAN FORAGE PEA (Pisum sativum ssp arvense L.) ECOTYPE

The Eastern Anatolian forage pea ecotype generally has a thin stem, small leaves and small seeds. The ecotype is different from the improved breeds and thus cultural techniques for this ecotype are somehow different. Current study was conducted to investigate the effects of row spacing and seeding rate on yield and some other characteristics of the Eastern Anatolian forage pea (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L.) ecotype. Experiments were carried out in randomised complete blocks design with three replications under irrigated conditions of Erzurum during the years 2010 and 2011. Three different row spacing (20, 40 and 60 cm) and four different seeding rates (60, 90, 120 and 150 kg ha(-1)) were used in experiments. Hay yield, hay crude protein, ADF and NDF ratios, seed yield, straw yield, biological yield and harvest index parameters were investigated in this study. Results can be summarised as follows: Row spacing and seeding rate had significant effects on dry matter and seed yield of the forage pea. Based on the results of the present study and under Erzurum conditions, it was recommended that the Eastern Anatolian forage pea ecotype should be cultivated with 40 cm row spacing and 120 kg ha(-1) seeding rate for hay yield and with 40 cm row spacing and 90 kg ha(-1) seeding rate for seed yield.