Enhancing Pea Productivity and Disease Control via Sowing Density and Trellising Net System Synergies

Abstract

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) productivity depends on canopy architecture and planting density. This field study assessed the interaction between a trellising net system (TS; present vs. absent) and three sowing densities (80, 40, and 27 kg·ha^-1) on growth, yield components, and disease incidence in cultivar Pairumani 1. Trials were conducted in Cohajoni, Sorata, from March to July 2024, using a randomized complete-block, split-plot design with three replications. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant TS × density interaction for pod length (p < 0.01), and significant TS × density interactions for plant height, grain weight per pod, and green-pod yield (p < 0.05). The TS × 80 kg·ha^-1 treatment produced the highest green-pod yield (8.0 t·ha^-1), which was more than 30% higher than comparable non-trellised treatments. Trellising improved canopy stability and light interception, reduced lodging, increased the number of grains per pod and mean pod weight, and reduced pod-weight variability. Trellised plots also showed a marked (~70%) reduction in powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi) incidence, which is attributed to improved aeration and reduced canopy humidity. Higher sowing density increased area-level yield via population compensation but intensified intraspecific competition, thereby reducing pods per plant. For field technicians, combining trellising with approximately 80 kg·ha^-1 maximizes green-pod yield and crop health, provided it is integrated with balanced nutrition, adequate water management, uniform sowing, and regular disease monitoring. Results are specific to the tested cultivar, season, and environment; therefore, multi-season, multi-site validation and an economic assessment comparing trellising input costs with yield gains are recommended before wider adoption.