For individuals engaged in agricultural activities across Purnia, green pea cultivation offers a lucrative pathway to enhance earnings. Given the local soil composition and climatic conditions, growing peas has emerged as a reliable source of income. Agricultural scientists emphasize that selecting the right time for sowing allows farmers to prepare their crops on schedule and secure substantial profits in the market.
Recommended Pea Varieties for Local Soil
Providing detailed insights into the practice, Dr. Vikas Kumar, a scientist at Bhola Paswan Shastri Agricultural College in Purnia, noted that numerous seed varieties are available to deliver high yields and quick returns within a short timeframe. Jawahar मटर is recognized as a traditional yet highly profitable variety. Farmers can also opt for Jawahar मटर 83 as well as Jawahar मटर 15.
Additionally, varieties such as Arka Ajit, Arka Kartik, and Arka Sampurna rank among the superior choices for pea cultivation. The Bonibili variety is also widely cultivated across the region. Furthermore, a specific sweet pod variety known locally as Mithi Phali is utilized directly as a vegetable, with its production undertaken on an extensive scale.
Sowing Timeline and Plant Spacing
Although the ideal season for initiating pea cultivation commences in October, farmers can also plant the crop throughout November. The recommended seed rate ranges from 100 to 120 kilograms per hectare. Maintaining proper spacing is crucial, requiring a distance of approximately 15 centimeters between individual plants and around 45 centimeters between rows. Farmers also need to provide physical support structures, known as alan, to keep the crop upright and healthy.
Growth Cycle and Nutrient Requirements
A green pea crop matures fully within 75 to 80 days, while the initial harvesting of pods begins as early as 35 days. Farmers can easily harvest the produce from their fields within 35 to 40 days of growth. Notably, pea cultivation does not demand heavy external fertilization because nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria reside naturally within the root nodules, supplying essential nutrients to the plants.
During the early stages, an application of 20 to 30 kilograms of nitrogen, alongside 40 to 50 kilograms each of phosphorus and potash per hectare, is sufficient. Regular irrigation should be maintained at intervals of every 10 to 15 days to sustain soil moisture. Moreover, this crop experiences minimal vulnerability to severe diseases, allowing growers to maximize their profits with reduced risk and effort.
