Determination of planting spacing for improved yield and yield components of Dekoko (Pisum sativum var. abyssinicum) at Raya Valley, Northern Ethiopia

Dekoko is a cool-season food legume cultivated in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. It is highly appreciated by the local people for its taste and high market value. Yields of Dekoko, however, are limited by improper planting spacing. Thus, an experiment was conducted in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons to determine the appropriate planting spacing of Dekoko that maximizes its productivity under rain fed conditions. Treatments comprised combinations of three plant spacing (10, 15 and 20 cm) and three levels of row spacing (40, 50 and 60 cm) and broad casting were done in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plant spacing influenced plant height, grain yield and biomass yield. The greatest plant height (50.63 cm) was obtained at a spacing of 60x20 cm while the maximum mean grain (544.58 kg ha-1) and biomass yields (1562.65 kg ha-1) were obtained at spacing of 40x15 cm in both cropping seasons. A planting spacing of 40 x 15 cm is recommended for the growers in the study area. Key words: Dekoko, plant spacing, row spacing, yield, yield components.