scholarly journals Spatial Arrangements on Growth and Yield of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in Intercropping

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
A. K. M. R. B. Maduwanthi ◽  
B. Karunarathna
2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Adigun ◽  
A. O. Osipitan ◽  
Segun Toyosi Lagoke ◽  
Raphael Olusegun Adeyemi ◽  
Stephen Olaoluwa Afolami

Weed problem appears to be the most deleterious factor causing between 25 and 60% reduction in potential yield of cowpea. Field trials were therefore conducted to study the effect of inter-row spacing and period of weed interference on growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (07° 15'; 03° 25' E) in South Western Nigeria during the early and late wet seasons of 2009. The experiment consisted of eight main plots of weed interference which included initial weed removal for 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS) and subsequently weed –infested until harvest as well as initial weed infestation for corresponding periods and thereafter kept weed free until harvest. There were also sub-plot treatments of three inter-row spacing of 60, 75, and 90 cm. All treatments in different combinations were laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. In both trials, the use of inter-row spacing of 60 cm resulted in significant reduction in weed growth as evident in lower weed dry matter production and subsequent higher cowpea pod and grain yields than those of 75 and 90 cm inter-row spacing. Initial weed infestation of up to 3 WAS did not have any adverse effect on crop growth and cowpea grain yields provided the weeds were subsequently removed. On the other hand, cowpea grain yield loss was not significantly averted by keeping the crop weed free for only 3 WAS without subsequent weed removal. In this study, initial weed-infestation for 6 WAS and beyond significantly depressed various crop growth parameter and cowpea grain yield compared with the crop kept weed free throughout its life cycle. In order to obtain optimum yields similar to that of the weed free cowpea field, it was required to keep the crop weed free for 6 WAS and beyond. However, frequent weeding beyond 9 weeks after sowing did not improve cowpea yield significantly and as a matter of fact it may even result in reduction of cowpea grain yield due to mechanical damage of hoe weeding. The practical implication of this finding is that early weeding starting from 3 WAS is very crucial for cowpea production while the critical period of weed removal for optimum yield in cowpea is between 3 and 9 WAS in the forest-savannah transitional zone of south Western Nigeria.


Author(s):  
A. A. J. Mofunanya ◽  
E. A. Effa ◽  
I. R. Udosen

Aim: Amelioration effect of soil amendment on growth and yield of Vigna unguiculata L. grown in acidic and alkaline soils. Study Design: The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design with five replicates. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Botany, University of Calabar, Nigeria, between May and September, 2017. Methodology: Composite soils from two locations Akamkpa (pH 4.0) and Odukpani (pH 9.0) were collected, mixed thoroughly with organic manure (OM) and agricultural lime (AL) singly and in combination, allowed to stay three weeks for proper blending before V. unguiculata seeds were sown. On seedlings germination, amelioration effect of soil amendment on growth and yield of cowpea grown in acidic and alkaline soils was studied at different periods of growth. Results: Results revealed significant (P=0.05) increase in leaf area, plant height, number of leaves, leaf fresh and leaf dry weight, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate and leaf area ratio of V. unguiculata grown in acidic and alkaline soils treated with OM and AL. Pod length, number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, number of seeds plant-1, weight of 100 seeds increased significantly. Organic manure used singly and in combination was more effective in ameliorating soil pH effect than AL. Vigna unguiculata performed better in treated and untreated alkaline than in acidic soils. Least plant height for V. unguiculata grown in untreated alkaline soil at 12 weeks after sowing WAS was 60.22±0.16a cm and highest 119.63E2±.35g cm for plants grown in soil treated with AL1+OM1. Least number of seeds plant-1 for plants grown in untreated acidic soil at 12 WAS was 90.60±0.02a and the highest 139.18E2±0.02e for plants grown in soil treated with AL1+OM1. Conclusion: An improvement in growth and seed yield of V. unguiculata grown in acidic and alkaline soils is feasible through the use of organic manure and agricultural lime.


1998 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. O. OLASANTAN

Field experiments were conducted on Alfisols in Nigeria between 1991 and 1993 to determine the residual effect of maize (Zea mays) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) on the growth, pod yield and N response of a succeeding okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) crop. Cowpea and maize were grown alone with 30 and 60 kg/ha of N, P and K, respectively, or intercropped with 60 kg/ha as a basal dressing. The preceding crops had a significant effect on soil nutrient changes, okra growth and yield, and N response of okra. Cowpea increased the N, P and K status of the soil in both sole and mixed stands, compared with sole maize. Leaf area, pod weight and marketable pod yield of okra after sole cowpea or the maize/cowpea intercrop were all significantly higher than after sole maize. Although the application of nitrogen to succeeding okra promoted growth and increased pod yield, this was not accompanied by an increase in the pod yield of okra after sole cowpea or the maize/cowpea treatment beyond 45 kg N/ha. The beneficial effects of the preceding maize/cowpea intercrop on soil fertility, okra pod yield and amounts of N required for okra were partly due to the higher rate of basal nutrients applied as compared to the effects following sole cowpea.


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