Assessment of NPK Fertilizer Levels on Growth, Physiological Attributes and Yield of Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract

The present field study was conducted to evaluate the impact of different nutrient levels on the growth, physiological traits, and yield attributes of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) under specific agro-climatic conditions. The experiment included five treatments with varying doses of NPK fertilizers, among which the treatment T5, consisting of 125% of the recommended NPK dose, consistently produced the most favorable results. Observations were recorded at 30, 45, 60 days after sowing (DAS), and at harvest to assess plant height, number of branches per plant, leaf area index (LAI), and dry matter accumulation. The T5 treatment significantly enhanced vegetative growth and physiological efficiency, resulting in better pod formation and overall yield performance. Notably, T5 achieved the highest plant height (68.3 cm), LAI (2.45), and dry matter accumulation (22.8 g/plant), leading to a superior green pod yield of 95.2 q/ha. In contrast, the control treatment (T1), which received no fertilizer, showed the lowest performance across all parameters. The results underscore the importance of optimized nutrient management, especially nitrogen, in achieving enhanced crop performance in legumes. This study supports the adoption of higher-than-recommended NPK doses, tailored to soil conditions, to maximize productivity without adverse effects. Furthermore, the integration of chemical and organic nutrient sources and stage-specific application practices could further improve sustainability and efficiency in garden pea cultivation.