The response of two cultivars of dry harvest field peas (Pisum sativum), Solara and Bohatyr, to irrigation at different growth stages was studied on light soils overlying sand in Nottinghamshire, England in 1990, when the spring was particularly dry, in 1991 which had a dry spring and summer and in contrast, 1992, when rainfall was greater compared with the long-term (40 year) mean.

Solara, short haulmed and semi-leafless was more sensitive to drought than the tall conventional-leaved cultivar Bohatyr and gave a greater yield response to irrigation, particularly at the vegetative growth stage in the first two dry years 1990 and 1991, of 108% and 55% respectively, compared with unirrigated plots. Bohatyr was less sensitive to the timing of single applications.

In all years, peas irrigated throughout on several occasions produced the highest yields, but this was the least efficient use of water.