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Growth and Yields of Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) as Influenced by Seed Characters, Soil Moisture and Season of Planting

Growth and Yields of Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) as Influenced by Seed Characters, Soil... Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is an important food legume grown under rainfed conditions in the tropics. However, the yield of this crop varies widely in most tropical ecosystems due to crop and environmental factors. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of seed characteristics, soil moisture at planting and the season of crop establishment on growth and yield parameters of cowpea as these influence the productivity of the crop. Growth and yield of cowpea plants grown from small seeds with a high conductivity of their lea‐chates were significantly lower than those grown from large seeds. Root growth of seedlings was most prominent under moderate soil moisture levels. Low soil moisture retarded root growth by reducing dry weights and suppressing the development of laterals. Shoot growth was more sensitive to increasing soil moisture stress than root growth. Planting cowpea in the wet season produced the highest yields. Within a season, growth and yield were higher when the crop was planted early. Establishment of the crop later in the season produced better quality seeds measured in terms of germination after controlled deterioration. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science Wiley

Growth and Yields of Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) as Influenced by Seed Characters, Soil Moisture and Season of Planting

Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science , Volume 180 (3) – May 1, 1998

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References (9)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0931-2250
eISSN
1439-037X
DOI
10.1111/j.1439-037X.1998.tb00383.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is an important food legume grown under rainfed conditions in the tropics. However, the yield of this crop varies widely in most tropical ecosystems due to crop and environmental factors. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of seed characteristics, soil moisture at planting and the season of crop establishment on growth and yield parameters of cowpea as these influence the productivity of the crop. Growth and yield of cowpea plants grown from small seeds with a high conductivity of their lea‐chates were significantly lower than those grown from large seeds. Root growth of seedlings was most prominent under moderate soil moisture levels. Low soil moisture retarded root growth by reducing dry weights and suppressing the development of laterals. Shoot growth was more sensitive to increasing soil moisture stress than root growth. Planting cowpea in the wet season produced the highest yields. Within a season, growth and yield were higher when the crop was planted early. Establishment of the crop later in the season produced better quality seeds measured in terms of germination after controlled deterioration.

Journal

Journal of Agronomy and Crop ScienceWiley

Published: May 1, 1998

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