​Effect of Sowing Dates on Phenological Traits, Yield and its Contributing Attributes on Snow Pea Genotypes

Abstract

Background: Precise knowledge of sowing date of a particular variety at a specific location is critical to achieve high yield. Keeping this in view, experiment was planned to assess the response of snow pea genotypes for sowing dates. Methods: Four genotypes namely, DPEPP-15-1, DPEPP-10-1, Arka Apoorva and Mithi Phali were sown on three sowing dates (21st October, 5th November and 20th November) in split plot design, replicated thrice at Palampur during winter 2018-19 and 2019-20 and observations were recorded on different yield attributes. Result: Early sown pea (21st October) resulted in early flowering and first picking, higher pod yield, pods/plant and harvest duration followed by 5th November sown crop. DPEPP-10-1 showed significantly superior performance for early harvest while DPEPP-15-1 was the most promising genotype followed by DPEPP-10-1 for yield and its contributing parameters. Genotypes DPEPP-15-1 and DPEPP-10-1 had advantage of 36 and 27% for fresh yield over variety Arka Apoorva respectively. Interaction between sowing dates and varieties revealed that sowing of DPEPP-15-1 on 21st October followed by 5th November had significantly higher pod yield, pods/plant and harvest duration followed by DPEPP-10-1 and they significantly outperformed other varieties Arka Apoorva and Mithi Phali.