Effect of different sowing times and cultivars on performance of garden pea (Pisum sativum var. hortense) under terai zone of West Bengal, India

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of different sowing times on garden pea cultivars. Treatments consist of four different sowing times (viz, 26th October, 10th November, 25th November and 10th December) and five cultivars (viz, Arka Chaitra, Arka Apoorva, Arkel, Arka Priya and Arka Uttam. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design. Analyzed data revealed that sowing at 25th November showed maximum plant height (134.74 cm), maximum pods per plant (17.48), maximum individual pod weight (6.11 g) and maximum pod yield (10.98 t/ha). Among the cultivars, Arkel showed maximum plant height (129.36 cm) and Arka Priya recorded maximum pods per plant (19.62), maximum individual pod weight (6.79 g) and maximum pod yield (11.39 t/ha). Quality parameters such as shelling percent (45.50 %) and protein content of dry green seed (22.18 %) were recorded highest in Arkel. Arka Apoorva showed the highest ascorbic acid content of fresh seed (25.66 mg/100 g fresh). Maximum disease incidence (15.51 %) of collar rot was recorded under the sowing date 26th October (S1), meanwhile the lowest (9.24 %) was noted in 10th December sowing. Arkel (V3) showed the highest disease incidence (14.97 %) and the lowest (9.87 %) in Arka Chaitra (V1). Maximum benefit: сost ratio (3.53) was observed when Arka Priya was sown on 25th November. Garden pea cultivation in the Terai zone faces inconsistent winter temperatures and high humidity, which often disrupt flowering and pod set. Additionally, varying cultivar responses to shifting sowing windows make it difficult to optimize yield stability across seasons. Considering the interaction effect, Аrkа Priya сultivаr along with 25th November sowing, followed by Аrkа Priya cultivar along with 10th November sowing time and Аrkа Аpoorvа cultivar along with 25th November may be suitable for cultivation under the terаi zone of West Bengal. This study evaluated how varying sowing times and cultivar choices influence growth, yield, and quality of garden pea under the Terai agro-climatic conditions of West Bengal. The findings identified the most suitable sowing window and high-performing cultivars to optimize regional pea production.