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Yield and Quality of Peas for Processing as Affected by Lime and Fertilizers¹

ABSTRACT

In order to obtain information which might improve yields, lime and fertilizer tests on peas for canning and freezing were conducted in Aroostook County and central Maine over a 4-year period, 1947–1950.

Applying 300–400 pounds of finely ground dolomitic limestone down the drill spout with the pea seed increased the yield of shelled peas on the average by 645 pounds per acre on acid potato soils. With properly inoculated seed lime applications prevented premature yellowing of the vines and resulted in norinal dark green growth of vines without nitrogen fertilization of the crop.

Where lime was applied with inoculated seed, application of N or NPK fertilizers resulted in increases in yields of shelled peas of low tenderometer ratings and high quality in only 4 out of 16 experiments. Yields of vines, however, were increased consistently by N fertilization; in most experiments yields of shelled peas of high tenderometer ratings and low quality were also increased. With peas harvested on the same day both lime and nitrogen tended to delay maturity, as shown by lower tenderometer ratings.

Since lime and nitrogen have similar effects on yields of peas grown on acid soils, it may be concluded from this study that application of lower costing lime with inoculated pea seed is more profitable than higher costing nitrogen fertilization. Application of nitrogen can usually be justified only to delay maturity of part or all of the crop to facilitate harvesting a high quality pack. Application of P and K fertilizers is recommended only as insurance on soils testing low in these nutrients.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Agronomy, Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, Orono, Me. The work was in cooperation with H. C. Baxter and Bro. and Birds Eye Div., General Foods Corp. Presented before Section IV, Soil Science Society of America, State College, Pa., August 30, 1951.

² Agronomist and Assistant Agronomist, respectively. Credit is also due M. F. Trevett, C. E. Cunningham, and S. C. Junkins for their part in the study.