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Forage pea

Forage pea, also known by other names, is grown for green manure (enrichment of nitrogen in the soil) and as a protein-rich fodder crop.

Plant of the forage pea in the ripening phase
Fig. 1: Plant of the forage pea in the ripening phase.

Properties

Forage peas need loose soil and are sensitive to waterlogging. Especially at flowering time the plants need sufficient water.
Sowing: from the middle of March until the end of April
Row spacing: 15 - 30cm
Root depth: medium taproot up to 50cm
Maturation: yellowing from the end of June, harvest from mid-July to mid-August

Formation of crop marks

Forage peas are not known to be a good medium for crop marks, but due to row spacing, larger structures can develop as positive fouling traits both in height growth and as colour differences at maturity.

Examples

Positive crop marks of a circle ditch and a burrow garden in a field of forage peas in transition to yellowing
Fig. 2: Positive crop marks of a circle ditch and a burrow garden in a field of forage peas in transition to yellowing (date of recording 30.06.2015).