Grain yield and quality characteristics of different genotypes of winter pea in comparison to spring pea for organic farming in pure and mixed stands

Abstract

High grain yields are difficult to achieve for common spring pea (SP), mainly as a result of its relatively low competitiveness and yield instability. In field experiments, seven different genotypes of winter pea (WP) were analysed for their yield performance and yield stability in comparison to one SP in pure and mixed stands (two replacement designs with cereal) at two experimental sites in four and two growing seasons, respectively. Additionally, in a selection of treatments, parameters of grain quality were analysed. Two of the seven genotypes cannot be recommended for cropping in climates where there are frequent incidences of frost in winter, due to their poor winter hardiness. The pea grain yield of the highest-yielding WP grown in mixed stands (overall mean of 2.4 t DM ha−1) was higher than in a pure stand, with 1.8 and 1.9 t DM ha−1 for WP and SP, respectively. Moreover, the concentration of valuable substances (crude protein, amino acids) in WP was comparable to SP, but the concentration of unfavourable secondary compounds (tannin, trypsin inhibitor activity) was significantly higher. WP showed higher yield stability than SP, and negligible weed infestation was observed for WP, but not for SP. Hence, using WP–cereal mixtures provides an alternative to cropping SP, but awareness of the potential constraint to its use as feedstuff for monogastrics is required.