UNIT V – Peas and Broad Bean, Green Leafy Cool Season Vegetables
🌿 Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L.)
1. Introduction
Pea is an important cool-season legume vegetable, valued for its immature green pods and seeds rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals.
It is the second most important legume vegetable after French bean in India. The crop enriches soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation by Rhizobium leguminosarum.
Used fresh, frozen, canned, and for dry seed production.
Origin: Central Asia and the Near East (Ethiopia to Afghanistan).
Major producing states: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh.
2. Botany and Taxonomy
- Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
- Genus: Pisum
- Species: Pisum sativum L.
- Chromosome number: 2n = 14
- Pollination: Self-pollinated (occasional cross-pollination up to 1%)
- Root system: Deep taproot with nodules
- Stem: Weak, herbaceous, angular, and hollow
- Inflorescence: Axillary raceme
- Fruit: Dehiscent pod (legume)
- Seed: Round or wrinkled (basis for classification: smooth-seeded and wrinkled-seeded types)
3. Climatic and Soil Requirements
- Prefers cool, frost-free climate; optimum temperature 10–25°C.
- High temperature (>30°C) during flowering causes flower drop and poor pod set.
- Sensitive to waterlogging and frost.
- Soil: Fertile, well-drained loam to sandy loam with pH 6.0–7.5; avoid saline or alkaline soils.
4. Commercial Varieties and Hybrids
Early Maturing (60–75 days): Arkel, Azad P-1, Pant P-5, Pusa Pragati, Bonneville.
Mid-Season (80–100 days): Pusa Shree, Pusa Doon, Pant P-3, Kashi Udai.
Late Maturing (110–130 days): Bonneville, Lincoln, Pusa Priya, VL-7.
Hybrids / Processing Varieties: AP-3, Pusa Hybrid-2, Azad Pea-3, VRP-7 (high yielding, suited for canning).
5. Sowing and Planting
Time:
North India: October–November
Hills: February–March and August–September
Method: Direct sowing in rows.
Spacing: 30 cm between rows, 10 cm between plants.
Depth: 4–5 cm.
Seed rate:
Early varieties: 60–80 kg/ha
Late varieties: 80–100 kg/ha
6. Seed Treatment
- Treat seeds with Rhizobium culture @ 200 g/10 kg seeds for nitrogen fixation.
- Thiram or Captan @ 2.5 g/kg for soil-borne diseases.
- If both applied → first fungicide, then bio-inoculant.
7. Nutrient and Irrigation Requirements
- FYM: 15–20 t/ha before sowing.
- Fertilizers: 30–40 kg N, 60–70 kg P₂O₅, 40–50 kg K₂O/ha (full dose as basal at sowing).
- No top dressing needed due to nitrogen fixation.
Irrigation: Critical stages – pre-flowering, pod development, and seed filling. Usually 3–4 light irrigations; avoid overwatering.
8. Intercultural Operations and Weed Control
- Weeding: At 20 and 40 DAS.
- Earthing-up: Supports plants and improves drainage.
- Weed control:
- Fluchloralin @ 1 kg a.i./ha (pre-plant incorporation)
- Pendimethalin @ 0.75–1.0 kg a.i./ha (pre-emergence)
9. Physiological Disorders
| Disorder | Cause | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Poor pod set | High temperature, boron deficiency | Maintain proper sowing time, apply boron @ 0.5% foliar spray |
| Yellowing | Iron or nitrogen deficiency | Correct with FeSO₄ or urea foliar spray |
| Flower drop | Heat stress | Sow early to avoid flowering under high temperature |
10. Harvesting and Post-Harvest Management
Harvest when pods are tender, green, and seeds are immature. Harvesting stage varies from 60–130 days depending on variety.
Yield: 70–120 q/ha (pods); 12–15 q/ha (dry seed).
Storage: At 0°C and 90–95% RH for 2–3 weeks.
Processing: For freezing, blanch pods at 90°C for 1–2 minutes, cool, and freeze at –20°C.
11. Plant Protection
Pests
| Pest | Damage | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Pea pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) | Feeds on developing seeds | Spray Spinosad @ 0.3 ml/L |
| Aphids (Aphis craccivora) | Suck sap and transmit viruses | Imidacloprid 0.3 ml/L or neem extract 5% |
| Cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) | Cuts seedlings at base | Soil drenching with Chlorpyrifos 0.05% |
Diseases
| Disease | Causal Organism | Management |
|---|---|---|
| Powdery mildew | Erysiphe polygoni | Spray sulfur 0.2% |
| Downy mildew | Peronospora viciae | Spray Mancozeb 0.25% |
| Wilt | Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. pisi | Soil solarization, use resistant varieties |
| Rust | Uromyces pisi | Spray Propiconazole 0.1% |
| Mosaic virus | Pea enation mosaic virus | Vector control, rogueing |
12. Seed Production
- Type: Self-pollinated; maintain genetic purity.
- Isolation distance: 20 m (foundation) / 10 m (certified).
- Roguing: Remove off-types at vegetative and flowering stages.
- Seed yield: 15–20 q/ha.
- Moisture for storage: ≤10%.
- Storage: Seeds stored at 5°C remain viable for 3–4 years.
13. Important Points for Exam
- N-fixing symbiont: Rhizobium leguminosarum
- Pollination: Predominantly self-pollinated
- Critical irrigation: Flowering and pod filling
- Major disorder: Boron deficiency causes flower drop
- Yield (green pod): 70–120 q/ha
🌿 Broad Bean (Vicia faba L.)
1. Introduction
- Commonly known as Faba bean or Horse bean.
- One of the oldest cultivated legumes, rich in protein (25–30%), carbohydrates, and minerals.
- Consumed as green pods, immature seeds, or dry pulses.
- It also enriches soil fertility through nitrogen fixation.
2. Botany and Taxonomy
- Family: Fabaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n = 12
- Origin: Mediterranean region
- Flower: Zygomorphic, self and cross-pollinated
- Fruit: Flat, leathery pod with 2–8 seeds
- Root system: Deep taproot with Rhizobium nodules
3. Climatic and Soil Requirements
- Grows well in cool, moist climate.
Optimum temperature: 15–18°C.
- Sensitive to frost at flowering stage.
- Prefers well-drained loamy soils with pH 6.0–7.5.
4. Varieties
- Early types: Pusa Sumeet, T-9, Long Pod.
- High-yielding: Pusa Udit, Vikrant, Karamchand.
- Exotic types: Aguadulce, Witkiem.
5. Sowing and Seed Treatment
- Sowing time: October–November (North India).
- Spacing: 45–60 × 10–15 cm.
- Seed rate: 80–100 kg/ha.
- Treatment: Treat seeds with Rhizobium culture and Thiram (3 g/kg seed).
6. Nutritional and Irrigation Requirements
- Apply 20–25 t/ha FYM, 20–25 kg N, 50 kg P₂O₅, and 50 kg K₂O per hectare.
- Half N and full P & K applied at sowing.
- Irrigate at flowering and pod formation stages (critical).
7. Intercultural Operations and Weed Control
- 2–3 hoeings for aeration.
- Weeds controlled by Pendimethalin (1.0 kg a.i./ha) pre-emergence.
8. Physiological Disorders
- Flowers drop under high temperatures.
- Chlorosis due to iron deficiency in alkaline soils.
9. Harvesting and Yield
- Harvest green pods when seeds are tender and pods well-filled.
- Yield: 60–80 q/ha (green pods).
10. Post-harvest Management
- Graded and packed in perforated crates; short shelf life.
- Can be blanched and frozen for longer storage.
11. Plant Protection
- Aphids: Spray Dimethoate (0.05%).
- Chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae): Mancozeb (0.25%).
- Rust: Wettable sulphur (0.25%).
12. Seed Production
- Maintain an isolation distance of 20 m.
- Roguing at pre-flowering and pod stages.
- Pods dried to 10% seed moisture before storage.
🌿 Green Leafy Cool Season Vegetables
1. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)
a. Introduction
- A quick-growing leafy vegetable rich in iron, calcium, and vitamin A.
- Consumed fresh or cooked; popular in winter.
b. Botany
- Family: Amaranthaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n = 12
- Origin: Persia
- Type: Dioecious (separate male & female plants).
c. Climate and Soil
- Cool-season crop, optimum temperature 15–20°C.
- Loamy soil rich in organic matter, pH 6.0–7.0.
d. Varieties
- Pusa Harit, Pusa Jyoti, All Green, Jobner Green, Punjab Green.
e. Sowing & Seed Rate
- Seed rate: 25–30 kg/ha; spacing: 25–30 × 5–10 cm.
- Sowing: October–February in plains.
f. Nutrient & Irrigation
- FYM 20–25 t/ha; N 80–100 kg/ha in split doses.
- Frequent light irrigation.
g. Harvesting
- First cutting at 25–30 days after sowing.
- Subsequent cuttings every 15–20 days.
h. Yield
- 100–120 q/ha per season.
2. Spinach Beet (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis)
a. Introduction
- Also called Indian Palak; more heat-tolerant than spinach.
- Grown for its tender leaves and petioles.
b. Botany
- Family: Amaranthaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n = 18
- Origin: India.
c. Climate and Soil
- Tolerant to slightly higher temperatures (up to 30°C).
- Requires fertile loam soils with good drainage.
d. Varieties
- Pusa Jyoti, Pusa Palak, Jobner Green, Arka Anupama.
e. Sowing and Spacing
- October–March; spacing 25 × 10 cm.
- Seed rate: 25 kg/ha.
f. Nutrition and Irrigation
- 20 t FYM + 80:40:40 NPK kg/ha; light frequent irrigations.
g. Harvesting and Yield
- First cutting at 30–35 DAS; yield: 150–200 q/ha.
3. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)
a. Introduction
- Popular leafy and seed spice crop; leaves rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Improves digestion and soil fertility (legume crop).
b. Botany
- Family: Fabaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n = 16
- Origin: Eastern Mediterranean.
c. Climate and Soil
- Cool climate; best at 10–25°C.
- Well-drained loam with pH 6.0–7.5.
d. Varieties
- Pusa Early Bunching, Kasuri, Co-1, HM-57.
e. Sowing and Seed Rate
- October–November; seed rate 20–25 kg/ha.
- Spacing: 30 × 10 cm.
f. Fertilization
- FYM 15 t/ha + 20:40:20 NPK kg/ha.
g. Harvesting
- Leaves harvested 25–30 DAS for greens; seeds 110–120 DAS.
- Yield: 80–100 q/ha (greens).
4. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
a. Introduction
- Popular salad crop; rich in vitamin A and minerals.
- Forms loose or compact heads depending on type.
b. Botany
- Family: Asteraceae
- Chromosome number: 2n = 18
- Origin: Mediterranean region.
c. Climate and Soil
- Cool-season crop; ideal temperature 12–18°C.
- Sandy loam to loam soil rich in organic matter.
d. Types
- Crisphead, Butterhead, Cos, Leaf lettuce.
e. Varieties
- Great Lakes, Romaine, Pusa Iceberg, Arka Romaine.
f. Sowing and Seed Rate
- Nursery sowing: Oct–Nov; transplant at 4–5 leaf stage.
- Spacing: 30 × 30 cm; seed rate: 0.5–1.0 kg/ha.
g. Nutrient and Irrigation
- FYM 20 t/ha; NPK 100:80:60 kg/ha.
- Frequent irrigation essential for crisp heads.
h. Harvesting
- 60–80 days after transplanting; harvest before bolting.
i. Yield
- 150–200 q/ha.