Pea crop is a feasible option for agriculture in low lands during winter season. However, this crop is not adapted to extreme conditions of water deficit or excess. In hidromorfic soils, temporary waterlogging or flooding conditions often occur affecting directly plant growth. The effect of water level drawdown on the growth and yield of pea, cv Axe, and the most sensitive growing stage of the crop to soil water excess were estimated. The effects of waterlogging and water table drawdown were proportional to flooding time, especially when waterlogging occurred at the vegetative stage. The major susceptibility of the pea plants to waterlogging was in reproductive stage, with significant yield reduction in all treatments. On the other hand, we observed that drawdown velocity had no effect on results, but on vegetative stage when a water level lowering in depths of more than 20 cm per day caused crop yield reductions of nearly 20%.
Pisum sativum L.; drainage; waterlogging sensibility; oxygen deficiency
