A blend of peas and canola meal is an excellent source of protein and energy for hog and poultry rations. Peas do not tolerate salinity or waterlogging. Wet or cold soils favour the development of disease. Stony fields can be used, but they must be rolled to prevent problems at harvest. Peas can be grown on summerfallow, but do not require the extra nitrogen provided by summerfallow.
Peas perform very well on cereal stubble where the soil nitrogen is often depleted.
Pea seeds germinate at temperatures between 4 and 24 degrees celcius. The best growing temperature range is when daytime highs are between 13 and 23 degrees celcius. The plants can not tolerate drought or high temperatures. Seedlings tolerate frost down to minus 7 degrees celcius, but frost at the flowering stage can cause heavy pod losses. Frost during the early pod fill stage causes discoloured and deformed seeds.