Differences in chemical composition of field pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars: Effects of cultivation area and year

The influence of the meteorological conditions during the cultivation year, along with the soil characteristics of the cultivation area, on nutrient and antinutrient compositions were evaluated for three field pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars. All varieties were cultivated in three different cultivation areas for two subsequent years. The location of the cultivation area significantly affected the proximate composition, sucrose, starch and non-starch polysaccharide contents, as well as the total tannin and phytic acid contents of peas. The cultivation year also affected all traits with the exception of starch. The major constituents of the pea seeds were significantly affected by the interaction between the cultivation area and the cultivation year. These results indicate that the composition of peas is highly dependent on the climate conditions, as well as on the soil characteristics of the cultivation area during the growing season. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.