| Drilled Seeding Depth | 1-1½ inch [2.5-3.8 cm ] |
| Drilled Seeding Rate |
35-90 lb/ac [40-100 kg/ha] Broadcast and incorporated rate should be 10 - 20% higher than drilled rate. Increase seeding rate in late fall. |
| Aerial seeding rate | Not Recommended. |
| Seeds per lb | 2500 (metric: 5500) |
| Frost Seed | No |
| Legume inoculation type | pea/vetch. Not a recommendation for the need to inoculate |
| Comments | Requires more moisture to germinate well with broadcast or aerial seeding. If the system is organic, be careful to use an OMRI certified inoculum. |
| Termination Methods | Freeze, Tillage, Mow, Herbicide |
| Termination Comments | Inconsistent winter survival. |
| Legume Nitrogen Source | Good |
| N scavenger + N holder | Fair |
| Organic matter/soil builder | Fair |
| Compaction Fighter | Poor |
| Water Erosion Fighter | Good |
| Wind Erosion Fighter | Good |
| Weed Fighter | Good |
| Winter Survival | Never |
| Winter Kill | Never |
| Quick Growth | Good |
| Lasting Residue | Fair |
| Quick Residue Breakdown | Poor - Mature crops are slower to decompose. Manage termination accordingly. |
| Potential Biofumigant | Poor |
| Forage Harvest | Good |
| Seed Harvest | Poor |
| Interseed with Cash Crop | Good |
| Total Nitrogen | 0 [N/A] |
| Dry Matter per year | 1200-3000 lb/ac [1350-3350 kg/ha] - Dry matter and N content depends on amount of crop growth and maturity. |
| Comments | Biomass decomposes quickly. May cause bloat in cattle/sheep. |
| Scientific Name | Pisum sativum |
| Life Cycle | Winter Annual, Cool Season Annual |
| Growth Habit | Climbing |
| Prefered Soil pH | 6.0-8.0 |
| Relative Costs (per area) | 2 |
| Min. Germination Temp. | 41F/5C |
| Heat Tolerance | Fair |
| Drought Tolerance | Fair |
| Shade Tolerance | Fair |
| Flood Tolerance | Fair |
| Low Fertility Tolerance | Fair |
| Loosen subsoil | Fair |
| Makes P&K more available to crops | Poor |
| Loosens Topsoil | Good |
| Soil Ecology - Suppresses Nematodes | Good |
| Soil Ecology - Suppresses Disease | Very Good, check for specific diseases |
| Weed Control - Allelopathy | Fair |
| Weed Control - Chokes Weeds | Good |
| Attracts Beneficials | Fair |
| Takes foot or vehicle traffic | Fair |
| Short Windows | Good, growth in a short time period |
| Comments | Poor host for soybean cyst nematode |
| Volunteer Establishment (includes hard seed) | Rarely a problem |
| Weed Potential | Rarely a problem, includes hard seed, likelihood to produce seed or survive termination |
| Insects/Nematodes/Slugs | Could be moderate problem |
| Crop Disease | Could be moderate problem, check for specific diseases |
| Establishment Challenges | Rarely a problem |
| Challenges incorporating mature residues | Occasionally a problem |
| Comments | Host for root knot nematode, Penetrans Root-Lesion Nematode and sugarbeet cyst nematode; Risk for white mold (Sclerotinia). |
The ability to achieve goals depends on appropriate situation and proper management.