New pea variety with high nutritional value

Ludhiana, Aug 28 (UNI) A new variety of pea, classified as Punjab-89, has been developed by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) which has a high nutritive value.

This variety contains high percentage of digestible proteins, which is around seven per cent (7%) alongwith carbohydrates and vitamins, PAU Head of the Depratment of Vegetable crops, Dr J S Kanwar revealed here today.

Dr Kanwar said that another important feature of this variety is that its first picking takes place within 85-90 days of its sowing. So it matures faster than other varieties.

According to Dr Mohan Singh of the same department this is a main variety of the current season. The best time of sowing this variety is between October 15 to November 15.

The plants of this variety are medium dwarf, vigorous and having more number of well filled pods (28-30 per plant). The pods are dark green, long and very attractive having 9-10 grains per pod. Pods are borne in doubles.

The shelled peas are very sweet and shelling out turn is more than 55 per cent. Average green pod yield is 60 qunitals per acre.

Giving further details, Dr P S Brar of the department said that in Punjab, the area under pea cultivation is a little over 17,000 hectares with a production of 1,03,000 tonnes.

UNI