The effect of weed control methods on magnesium and calcium content in edible pea seeds (Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in 2006-2008 at the Experimental Farm in Zawady, owned by the University of Podlasie. The experimental design was a split-plot arrangement of treatments with three replicates. The factors examined included: factor I – three sowing densities (75, 100 and 125 plants per 1 m2), and factor II – five weed control methods (control – mechanical weed control and four herbicidebased treatments). The objective of the study was to determine the effect of weed control methods as well as sowing density on magnesium and calcium content in the seeds of edible pea (Pisum sativum L.) of Merlin cultivar. The highest seed yield was obtained in the plots where weeds were chemically controlled (Afalon Dyspersyjny 450 SC was sprayed just after sowing and followed by an application of a mixture of Basagran 600 SL + Fusilade Forte 150 EC when plants were 5 cm high). The yield from this treatment was 4.84 t ha –1 , on average. The lowest yield was harvested in the plots where weeds were mechanically controlled (the control) – on average 2.92 t ha –1 . Variance analysis showed significant influence of weed control methods and weather conditions on magnesium and calcium contents in pea seeds. The herbicides applied in the experiment increased concentrations of the above elements compared with the control. The highest magnesium content (1.389 g kg –1 ) in pea seeds was found in the plots where Afalon Dyspersyjny 450 SC was applied just after sowing at a dose of 1.5 dm 3 ha –1 and followed by a mixture of Basagran 600 SL at a dose of 2.0 dm 3 ha –1 + Fusilade Forte at a dose of 1.5 dm3 ha–1 applied post-emergence. The highest calcium content was recorded for treatment 2, consisting of an application of Afalon Dyspersyjny 450 SC at a dose of 1.5 dm 3 ha –1 just after sowing and followed by post-emergence spraying with Basagran 600 SL at a dose of 2.0 dm 3 ha –1 – on average 0.989 g kg –1 . In turn, sowing density had no influence on the discussed characteristics although a tendency was observed towards increasing magnesium and calcium content in edible pea seeds.