Assessment of organic seed treatments in a commercial green pea field previously cropped to corn, 2009.

摘要

Twenty-three organic seed treatments consisting of biological, non-biological and a combination of each (see table) were evaluated in a conventional commercial pea field (silt loam soil) in Quincy, WA for their potential to manage seed and root rot pathogens of processed peas. The field was previously cropped to corn in 2008. Non-treated seed and a commercial seed treatment (Captan + Allegiance) were used as controls. Plots were planted on 30 Mar using a six-row belt planter. Treatments were replicated four times in plots arranged in a randomized complete block design. Each plot was 5.8 meters long with row spacing of 28 cm, seed spacing of 2.5 cm, and seeding depth of 5 cm. Standard commercial pea production practices were followed under center pivot irrigation. Emergence was determined on 21 Apr and plant height and root disease severity were assessed on 4 Jun. Dry pea yield was measured on 22 Jun. Whole plants were removed from the middle 1.5 m mid-section of the four center rows of each plot and plants were passed through a customized thrasher to remove peas from the pods. The general linear model (PROC GLM) in SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) was used to analyze all disease and plant parameters. Mean pair-wise comparisons among treatments were made using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference Test (P <= 0.05).