Pea and soybean performance in Newfoundland

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Plant Science
• Main Authors: Spaner, D., Todd, A. G., McKenzie, D. B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2001
• Subjects: Horticulture; Plant Science; Agronomy and Crop Science; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/p00-195; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.4141/P00-195

Newfoundland livestock farmers import all feed grain legumes. Our objective was to compare field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] nodule formation, plant growth, grain and protein yield potential in Newfoundland. Two-year experimental mean pea yield was high (≈0.3 t grain ha –1 ), although lodging was severe. Vision soybean yielded around 400 kg grain protein ha –1 when seeds were inoculated, even with soil temperatures below 20°C. Despite reasonable yield potentials, agronomic adaptation problems mitigate against the local production of all common feed grain legumes in the near future. Key words: Pisum sativum; Glycine max; lupins; faba beans; inoculant