pea, (Pisum sativum) - Plant Materials Program

PEA 

Pisum sativum L. 

Plant Symbol = PISA6 

Contributed by: NRCS Plant Materials Center, Pullman, 

Washington 

Plant Guide 

and are primarily blended with grains to fortify the 

protein content of livestock feed. Dried peas are also sold 

for human consumption as whole, split or ground peas. 

Peas are a nutritious legume, containing 15 to 35% 

protein, and high concentrations of the essential amino 

acids lysine and tryptophan (Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). 

Forage crop: Peas are grown alone or with cereals for 

silage and green fodder (Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). 

Peas can also be grazed while in the field. Young 

Austrian winter pea plants will regrow after being grazed 

multiple times (Clark, 2007). 

Rotational crop: Peas and other legumes are desirable in 

crop rotations because they break up disease and pest 

cycles, provide nitrogen, improve soil microbe diversity 

and activity, improve soil aggregation, conserve soil 

water, and provide economic diversity (Veseth, 1989; 

Lupwayi et al., 1998; Biederbeck et al., 2005; Chen et al., 

2006). 

Field of peas. Rebecca McGee, USDA-ARS 

Alternate Names 

Common Alternate Names: garden pea, field pea, spring 

pea, English pea, common pea, green pea (Pisum sativum 

L. ssp. sativum); Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum L. 

ssp. sativum var. arvense) 

Scientific Alternate Names: Pisum arvense L., Pisum 

humile Boiss. & Noe, Pisum sativum L. ssp. arvense (L.) 

Poir., Pisum sativum L. var. arvense (L.) Poir., Pisum 

sativum L. var. humile Poir., Pisum sativum L. var. 

macrocarpon Ser., Pisum sativum L. ssp. sativum, and 

Pisum sativum L. ssp. sativum var. arvense (L.) Poir. 

Uses 

Commercial crop: Peas are a cool-season crop grown for 

their edible seed or seed pods. Different types of peas are 

grown for various purposes. Garden or green peas are 

harvested before the seed is mature for the fresh or freshpack 

market (Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). Sugar snap 

peas and snow peas lack the inner pod fiber and are also 

harvested early for the fresh or fresh-pack market 

(McGee, 2012). Field peas, including fall-sown Austrian 

winter peas, are harvested when seeds are mature and dry, 

Green manure and cover crop: Peas are grown as green 

manures and cover crops because they grow quickly and 

contribute nitrogen to the soil (Ingels et al., 1994; Clark, 

2007). Pea roots have nodules, formed by the bacteria 

Rhizobium leguminosarum, which convert atmospheric 

nitrogen (N 2 ) to ammonia (NH 3 ). Peas also produce an 

abundance of succulent vines that breakdown quickly and 

provide nitrogen (Sarrantonio, 1994, as cited by Clark, 

2007). Austrian winter peas are the most common type of 

pea used as a green manure or cover crop because they 

are adapted to cold temperatures and fit in many rotations. 

Status 

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State 

Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current 

status (e.g., threatened or endangered species, state 

noxious status, and wetland indicator values). 

Description 

General: Legume family (Fabaceae). The pea is a coolseason 

annual vine that is smooth and has a bluish-green 

waxy appearance. Vines can be up to 9 ft long, however 

modern cultivars have shorter vines, about 2 ft long. The 

stem is hollow, and the taller cultivars cannot climb 

without support (Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). Leaves are 

alternate, pinnately compound, and consist of two large 

leaflike stipules, one to several pairs of oval leaflets, and 

terminal tendrils (McGee, 2012). Many modern cultivars 

have a semi-leafless or ‘afila’ leaf type in which the 

leaflets are converted into additional tendrils (McGee, 

2012).

Inflorescences occur in the leaf axils, and consist of 

racemes with one to four flowers. Flowers have five green 

fused sepals and five white, purple or pink petals of 

different sizes. The top petal is called the ‘standard’, the 

two small petals in the middle are fused together and 

called the ‘keel’ (because of their boat-like appearance), 

and the bottom two petals taper toward the base and are 

called the ‘wings’ (Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). Within 

the keel there are ten stamens; nine form a tube that 

surrounds the pistil, and there is one loose stamen. The 

ovary contains up to 15 ovules, and the fruit is a closed 

pod, 1 to 4 inches long that often has a rough inner 

membrane. Ripe seeds are round, smooth or wrinkled, 

and can be green, yellow, beige, brown, red-orange, bluered, 

dark violet to almost black, or spotted. 

The flowers are primarily self-pollinating, which enables 

breeders to create true breeding lines (Gill and Vear, 

1980). The plant is a diploid (2n = 14) (Hancock, 2004). 

Pea flower. Rebecca McGee, USDA-ARS 

The centers of origin of Pisum sativum are Ethiopia, the 

Mediterranean, and central Asia, with a secondary center 

of diversity in the Near East (Vavilov, 1949). Humans 

have likely been eating peas for approximately 9,500 

years, and cultivating them for 8,500 years (Elzebroek 

and Wind, 2008). Greek and Roman writers mentioned 

peas, but varieties were not described until the sixteenth 

century (Simmonds, 1976). 

Distribution: Pisum sativum is currently grown in 

temperate regions, at high elevations, or during cool 

seasons in warm regions throughout the world (Elzebroek 

and Wind, 2008). Major pea producers are China, India, 

Canada, Russia, France and the United States (Food and 

Agriculture Organization, 2012). In the United States, the 

most production occurs in Washington, Montana, and 

North Dakota (USDA-National Agricultural Statistics 

Service, 2011). For current distribution, please consult 

the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS 

Web site. 

Adaptation 

Peas are adapted to many soil types, but grow best on 

fertile, light-textured, well-drained soils (Hartmann et al., 

1988; Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). Peas are sensitive to 

soil salinity and extreme acidity. The ideal soil pH range 

for pea production is 5.5 to 7.0 (Hartmann et al., 1988). 

Peas grow well with 16 to 39 inches annual precipitation 

(Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). 

Uncovered pea plants may tolerate temperatures as low as 

14°F, and if covered with snow, may tolerate 

temperatures as low as -22°F (Elzebroek and Wind, 

2008). Bourion et al. (2003) discovered the freezing 

tolerance in winter and spring pea genotypes is related to 

the concentration of soluble sugars in the leaves. Peas are 

more tolerant of cold if they are a winter-hardy cultivar 

such as ‘Melrose’, ‘Granger’ or ‘Commonwinter’, planted 

early to ensure adequate growth before the soil freezes, 

and planted into a rough seedbed or grain stubble where 

they have a protected environment (Clark, 2007). 

Peas are most productive at temperatures of 55 to 64°F 

(Hartmann et al., 1988). High temperatures during 

flowering may reduce seed set (Elzebroek and Wind, 

2008), and high temperatures during seed development 

may cause an increased starch and fiber content, lowering 

pea quality (Hartmann et al., 1988). 

Establishment 

Peas are established by seed in the spring or fall. Seed 

should be inoculated with Rhizobium leguminosarum 

prior to planting in fields where peas have not been 

previously grown to ensure root nodule formation and the 

fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. Seeding rates vary with 

cultivar, soil type, seed size, climate, disease pressure and 

seeding method. Typical seeding rates range from 50 to 

80 lb/acre when drilled and 90 to 100 lb/acre when 

broadcast (Clark, 2007). 

Seed is planted at a depth of 1.5 to 3 inches in rows 

spaced 6 to 12 inches apart (Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). 

Peas emerge in 10 to 14 days. Spring-planted peas flower 

30 to 50 days after planting, and fall-planted peas flower 

approximately 250 days after planting. Flowering lasts 2 

to 4 weeks. The length of the growing season for springplanted 

peas is 60 to 150 days (Elzebroek and Wind, 

2008) and for fall-planted peas, 300 to 320 days (McGee, 

2012). 

Management 

Peas grown as commercial crop: Peas grow well on soils 

with moderate fertility levels, but on soils with low 

fertility, application of 45 lb/ac nitrogen and 90 lb/ac 

phosphorus and potassium can be advantageous 

(Hartmann et al., 1988). Nutrients applied in excess or at 

the wrong time may promote vegetative growth and be 

detrimental to pod development. A soil test will provide 

accurate information about nutrients needed. 

Fresh and dry peas are mechanically harvested by cutting 

the plants and threshing them to remove the seeds from 

the pods and vines. Prior to harvesting fresh peas, pea

quality and maturity is evaluated with a pressure test 

(Hartmann et al., 1988). The moisture content of dry peas 

must be less than 13% (Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). 

Garden peas are also harvested by hand before the seed 

matures for the fresh market. 

normal leaves (McGee, 2012), and growing with annual 

grains such as wheat, triticale, barley or rye. 

Numerous researchers have evaluated peas as a green 

manure or cover crop. Specific uses and results vary by 

geographic region: 

California: In the mild-winter areas of California, fallplanted 

winter peas produce about twice the amount of 

biomass as spring-planted peas (Clark, 2007). Austrian 

winter peas planted in the Sacramento Valley in October 

can produce 150 lb/acre nitrogen by early April. 

Inland Pacific Northwest: The short growing season and 

winter-spring precipitation pattern in the Inland Pacific 

Northwest region limit the use of green manures and 

cover crops. Austrian winter pea has the greatest 

potential as a green manure or cover crop in this region 

because it can grow in cool temperatures. 

Auld et al. (1982) found Austrian winter peas seeded in 

early September produced the highest yields of organic 

matter and vine N compared to other seeding dates. 

Delaying seeding by one month reduced the values by 

50%. Six spring pea cultivars produced a high organic 

matter yield but matured too late for plow-down in 

dryland conditions. The authors stated Austrian winter 

pea could produce a minimum of 160 lb/acre vine N. 

Mature pea plant with pods. Rebecca McGee, USDA-ARS 

Peas are poor competitors with weeds. Rapid seedling 

emergence, adequate crop density, pre- and post-plant 

tillage, and herbicides help reduce weed pressure 

(Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). 

Peas grown as green manure or cover crop: Peas 

produce large amounts of biomass, especially when 

grown in cool temperatures (Clark, 2007). The biomass, 

however, breaks down very quickly due to the plant’s low 

C:N ratio, and may not improve soil organic matter over 

the long-term (Russell, 1973). The decomposition of pea 

residue can be slowed by growing peas with a grain crop 

(Ranells and Wagger, 1997). 

Austrian winter peas can produce 90 to 150 lb/acre 

nitrogen (Clark, 2007). The actual amount of nitrogen 

available for plant uptake depends on timing and method 

of incorporation, soil temperature, moisture, and other 

factors (Sullivan, 2003). 

Peas are easily killed with herbicides, mowing, or disking. 

This should be done at full-bloom stage to optimize the N 

contribution (Clark, 2007). 

Peas do not suppress weeds as well as other cover crops 

(Clark, 2007). Weed suppression can be improved by 

growing varieties with long vines (Clark, 2007) and 

Murray and Swensen (1985) evaluated the yields of 

Austrian winter pea in monocultures and intercropped 

with 25, 50, and 75% winter wheat or winter barley. 

Winter pea yields with 25% winter cereals were equal to 

or 27% greater than monocropped winter peas. The 

authors attributed the benefit to the intercropped peas to 

reduced lodging, better light capture, and reduced 

incidence of Sclerotinia infection. 

Mahler and Auld (1989) compared N fertilizer equivalent 

values and winter wheat yields following Austrian winter 

pea green manure, Austrian winter pea harvested, summer 

fallow and spring barley in northern Idaho (Table 1). 

They found the agronomic benefit of Austrian winter pea 

harvested was similar to Austrian winter pea green 

manure, but the economic benefit of Austrian winter pea 

harvested was greater because it could be sold as a crop. 

They concluded the rotation with Austrian winter pea 

harvested was the most efficient. 

Crop Year 1 

N Fertilizer 

Equivalent 

Value 

Crop Year 2 

Winter Wheat 

Yield 

Austrian winter 84 lb/ac 99 bu/ac 

pea green manure 

Austrian winter 67 lb/ac 96 bu/ac 

pea harvested 

Summer fallow 61 lb/ac 94.5 bu/ac 

Spring barley N/A 70.5 bu/ac

Table 1. Comparison of N fertilizer equivalent values and winter 

wheat yields following Austrian winter pea green manure, 

Austrian winter pea harvested, summer fallow, and spring 

barley. From Mahler and Auld (1989). 

Mahler and Hemamda (1993) incorporated baled and 

dried residue of Austrian winter pea, alfalfa and wheat at 

rates of 0.45, 0.90, and 1.34 t/acre and compared yields of 

spring wheat the following year. The application of 1.34 

t/acre Austrian winter pea residue resulted in highest 

spring wheat yield. The N mineralization rate of the peas 

was more than double the rate of alfalfa, evidenced by the 

inorganic N in the soil 10 months after residue 

incorporation. Approximately 77% of the nitrogen from 

the peas was recovered, 58% by the wheat and 19% by 

the soil. 

Peas, alone or in mixtures, are sometimes planted in 

vineyards in the eastern Pacific Northwest to supply 

short-term organic matter and nitrogen (Olmstead, 2006). 

The crop is grown as a winter annual and tilled or mowed 

in the early summer. 

Northern Great Plains: Growers in the northern Great 

Plains sometimes plant legumes such as spring pea, 

Austrian winter pea, or lentils in the place of fallow 

(Clark, 2007). They manage the legume crop according 

to the growing season precipitation. If the season has 

below normal precipitation, they terminate the crop early. 

If there is normal precipitation, they terminate the crop 

when 4 inches of soil water remain, and if there is above 

normal precipitation, they allow the crop to mature for 

harvest (Clark, 2007). When they terminate the crop 

early, it still provides benefits of hay or nitrogen for the 

next crop (Fasching, 2006, as cited by Clark, 2007). 

In a study in Alberta, Soon et al. (2005) compared soil 

and plant N with no-till and conventional tillage, and with 

previous crops of red clover green manure, field pea, and 

spring wheat (both harvested). They found nitrogen 

uptake by wheat was higher with no-till than conventional 

tillage, and was higher when legumes preceded the wheat 

crop. They attributed this to greater mineralization of 

nitrogen from organic matter and microbial biomass 

during crop growth compared to wheat monoculture. 

Central Great Plains: In a study in eastern Colorado, 

legumes crops, such as Austrian winter pea, grown in the 

place of fallow depleted soil water and had detrimental 

effects on wheat yield the following year (Nielsen and 

Vigil, 2005). This occurred even when the legume crop 

was terminated early. 

Northern Midwest: Austrian winter pea may only be 

useful as a spring cover crop in the northern Midwest. 

Creamer et al. (1997) found it did not overwinter as well 

as other cover crops in an Ohio vegetable production 

system. Akemo et al. (2000a) evaluated field pea, rye, 

and pea-rye combinations at three different rates as spring 

cover crops in tomato production. Rye planted at the 

highest 100% rate resulted in the best weed control, 

however tomatoes yielded the highest when planted into 

mixtures containing 50% or more pea (Akemo et al., 

2000b). 

Southern Midwest: In Missouri, Reinbott et al. (2004) 

demonstrated that growing Austrian winter pea as a cover 

crop may provide benefits to no-till corn and grain 

sorghum. Yields of corn and grain sorghum were highest 

following fall-sown Austrian winter pea and hairy vetch 

when compared to oats, mixtures with oats, and no cover 

crop. 

South: Keeling et al. (1996) compared eight legumes, 

including Austrian winter pea, and two cereals for 

interseeding into cotton to control wind erosion in Texas. 

They found winter pea and hairy vetch established better 

than the small-seeded legumes; however, wheat and rye 

were the most dependable for producing soil cover. 

East and Southeast: Austrian winter pea is considered an 

option for green manure and cover crops in the East and 

Southeast, but the disease Sclerotinia crown rot limits its 

use (Clark, 2007). 

Austrian winter pea had better winter survival than 11 

other legumes in a no-till study in Florida, but it was 

damaged by Sclerotinia during damp cool periods 

(Holderbaum et al., 1990). It did not yield as well as 

hairy vetch, crimson clover, or legume-wheat mixtures. 

Carrera et al. (2005) found that Austrian winter pea and 

four other cover crops, alone or in mixtures, had potential 

in potato cropping systems with conservation tillage in 

Maryland and Virginia. The cover crops and 

conservation tillage provided the ability to enter the field 

earlier, and improved the soil by adding organic matter 

and reducing erosion. Economic analysis also 

demonstrated these practices were viable. 

Bhardwaj (2006) discovered that Austrian winter pea as a 

winter legume cover crop in Virginia resulted in higher 

yields of muskmelon and sweet corn than 102 lb/acre N 

fertilizer and no fertilizer, but lower yields than white 

lupine and hairy vetch. 

In Georgia, Schomberg et al. (2006) compared Austrian 

winter pea, three other legumes, oil seed radish, rye and 

black oat for a cover crop with strip till and no-till before 

cotton. While Austrian winter pea and hairy vetch had 

the highest nitrogen content (71.4 lb/acre), the 

combination of strip-tillage with black oats was the most 

profitable. 

Pests and Potential Problems 

Common foliar pea diseases (and their causal organism) 

include bacterial blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi), 

ascochyta blight (Ascochyta pisi, Mycosphaerella pinodes

and Phoma medicaginis var. pinodella), powdery mildew 

(Eryisphe pisi), downy mildew (Peronospora viciae f. sp. 

pisi), septoria blight (Septoria pisi), and white mold 

(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). Rhizoctonia (Rhizoctonia 

solani) and Pythium (Pythium spp.) are common seed rot 

and seedling damping-off diseases. Common root rots 

include Fusarium root rot (Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi), 

Aphanomyces root rot (Aphanomyces euteiches), and 

Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi). 

Economically important pea viral diseases include bean 

yellow mosaic (BYMV), pea enation mosaic (PEMV), 

pea seedborne mosaic virus (PSbMV), red clover vein 

mosaic virus (RCVMV) and pea streak virus (PeSV). 

Insect pests include pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), 

pea leaf miners (Liriomyza huidobrensis), pea leaf 

weevils (Sitona lineatus), pea seed weevils (Bruchus 

pisorum), Lygus bugs (Lygus spp.), spider mites (various 

species), and seed corn maggots (Delia platura). 

Nematodes (various species) can also be problematic in 

local areas (Kraft and Pfleger, 2001; McGee, 2012). 

Environmental Concerns 

None. 

Seeds and Plant Production 

Depending on the cultivar, there can be 1,000 to 3,000 

pea seeds per pound (Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). The 

average yields in the U.S. during the years 2007 – 2011 

were: Austrian winter peas 1,319 lb/acre; dry edible peas 

1,828 lb/acre, and wrinkled peas 616,800 CWT (USDA- 

National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). 

Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area 

of origin) 

Numerous pea cultivars are available. Breeders have 

selected for height, vegetative growth form, season of 

maturity, disease resistance, pod shape and length, seed 

color, tenderness, sweetness, seed shape, number of seeds 

per pod, and pod production per node (Hartmann et al., 

1988; Elzebroek and Wind, 2008). 

Producers in the Palouse region of the Inland Pacific 

Northwest (eastern Washington, northern Idaho and 

northeastern Oregon) grow many different types of peas, 

including the following types and cultivars. Green field 

peas: ‘Aragorn’, ‘Ariel’, ‘Banner’ and ‘CDC Striker’; 

forage peas: ‘40-10’, ‘Trapper’, ‘CDC Sonata’ and ‘Flex’; 

marrowfat peas (for the snack food market and mushy 

peas in UK): ‘Micichi’, ‘Midlea’, and ‘22-5’; maple peas 

(racing pigeon food): ‘Courier’, ‘CDC Mosaic’, and 

‘CDC Rocket’ (McGee, 2012). 

Producers in Montana, North Dakota, Alberta and 

Saskatchewan primarily grow yellow field peas. 

Cultivars include ‘Bridger’, ‘Delta’, ‘DS Admiral’, 

‘Carousel’, ‘CDC Agassiz’, and ‘Cutlass’ (McGee, 2012). 

Fall-planted field pea cultivars in the Palouse and 

northern Great Plains include ‘Specter’, ‘Windham’, 

‘Whistler’, ‘Granger’ and ‘Melrose’ (McGee, 2012). 

Cultivars often planted as green manure or cover crops 

include ‘Granger’, ‘Melrose’, and ‘Magnus’ (Clark, 

2007). 

References 

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Weed suppression in spring-sown rye (Secale 

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Akemo, M.C., M.A. Bennett, and E.E. Reginier. 2000b. 

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Soil microbial populations and activities as 

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Prepared By 

Pamela L.S. Pavek, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, 

Pullman, Washington 

Citation 

Pavek, P.L.S. 2012. Plant guide for pea (Pisum sativum 

L.). USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

Pullman, WA. 

Published June 2012 

Edited: 3May2012 aym; 14May2012 aj, 16 May2012 cs; 

20June2012 plsp 

For more information about this and other plants, please 

contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation 

District at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ and visit the 

PLANTS Web site at http://plants.usda.gov/ or the Plant 

Materials Program Web site http://plantmaterials.nrcs.usda.gov. 

PLANTS is not responsible for the content or availability 

of other Web sites. 

USDA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER

pea, (Pisum sativum) - Plant Materials Program

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