EFFECTS OF BORON, MOLYBDENUM AND LIME ON YIELD AND LEAF TISSUE NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION OF GREEN PEAS

Abstract

The effects of preplant soil applications of B, Mo and dolomitic limestone on yields and leaf tissue nutrient concentrations of Rally peas were investigated at five locations with initial soil pH levels of 5.1–5.9. Experiments were conducted for two consecutive growing seasons at each location. All treatments were preplant incorporated in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with five replicates. Yields of shelled peas, adjusted to tenderometer 100, varied between experiments from 1.1 to 4.8 × 103 kg ha−1 and were not generally affected by B, Mo or lime at application rates of 2.0, 0.25 and 10 000 kg ha−1, respectively. Also, the micronutrient and lime treatments had no significant effects on germination, vine length, pea/vine ratio or maturity. Leaf tissue B, Mo and Mg concentrations were increased by the applications of B, Mo and dolomitic limestone, respectively. However, leaf tissue Ca concentration was not affected by the lime treatment. The results indicate that leaf tissue concentrations of 16–74 μg g−1 B, 0.04–1.34 μg g−1 Mo and 0.23–0.55% Mg were within the sufficiency range.Key words: Peas, boron, molybdenum, dolomitic limestone, yield, leaf tissue concentration