Differences among eighteen winter pea genotypes for forage and cover crop use in the southeastern United States

Authors: VANN, RACHEL - North Carolina State University; REBERG-HORTON, S. CHRIS - North Carolina State University; CASTILLO, MIGUEL - North Carolina State University; MURPHY, J. PAUL - North Carolina State University; Mirsky, Steven; SAHA, UTTAM - University Of Georgia; McGee, Rebecca

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/22/2020
Publication Date: 2/2/2021
Citation: Vann, R., Reberg-Horton, S., Castillo, M., Murphy, J., Mirsky, S.B., Saha, U., McGee, R.J. 2021. Differences among eighteen winter pea genotypes for forage and cover crop use in the southeastern United States. Crop Science. 61(2):947-965. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20355.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20355

Interpretive Summary: Winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) can be used as a forage and cover crop in the Southeast USA, however minimal effort has been devoted to maximize pea genetics for forage and cover crop production in this region. Studies were conducted from 2015-2017 in Maryland and North Carolina screening eighteen winter pea genotypes for forage and cover crop use. Winter pea genotypes were compared to crimson clover and hairy vetch. All legume genotypes were harvested across four timings. Legume cold tolerance, disease incidence, biomass production, quality, and N release were estimated. Cold injury was severe with many pea genotypes at the Maryland environments and this restricted pea biomass production in Maryland. There was considerable variation for disease incidence among the pea genotypes depending on biotic stressors at each environment. The pea genotypes varied considerably for quality traits, including protein, lignin, and cellulose. Forage quality declined as biomass harvest was delayed, and was generally higher with all pea genotypes than crimson clover or hairy vetch. These results show wide genetic variation in the pea genotypes screened for biomass and quality; this variation could be utilized in breeding efforts to enhance winter pea production in the region.

Technical Abstract: Winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) can be used as a forage and cover crop in the Southeast USA, however minimal effort has been devoted to maximize pea genetics for forage and cover crop production in this region. Studies were conducted from 2015-2017 in Maryland and North Carolina screening eighteen winter pea genotypes for forage and cover crop use. Winter pea genotypes were compared to crimson clover and hairy vetch. All legume genotypes were harvested across four timings. Legume cold tolerance, disease incidence, biomass production, quality, and N release were estimated. Cold injury was severe with many pea genotypes at the Maryland environments and this restricted pea biomass production in Maryland. There was considerable variation for disease incidence among the pea genotypes depending on biotic stressors at each environment. At the North Carolina environments, several pea genotypes produced similar biomass to crimson clover and hairy vetch across harvest timings. At the Maryland environments, crimson clover and hairy vetch biomass exceeded pea biomass. The pea genotypes varied considerably for quality traits, including protein, lignin, and cellulose. Relative forage value declined as biomass harvest was delayed, and was generally higher with all pea genotypes than crimson clover or hairy vetch. These results show wide genetic variation in the pea genotypes screened for biomass and quality; this variation could be utilized in breeding efforts to enhance winter pea production in the region.