Effect of Plant Densities and Phosphorus Levels on the Growth and Yield of Vegetable Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L.) Var. Arka Garima
Effect of plant densities and phosphorus levels on the growth and yield of vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) var. Arka Garima
K. RAVI KUMAR1 AND V. SUDHA VANI2
Department of Horticulture, College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem-534 101,
Andhra Pradesh, India. E-mail : ravikuna4u@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
A field experiment was conducted at College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem to study the effect of plant density and phosphorus levels on the growth and yield of vegetable cowpea variety Arka Garima under irrigated conditions. The study revealed that the crop responded to plant densities as well as phosphorus levels. The biometric characters like number of primary branches per plant (8.52), pod length (21.31 cm), pod girth (12.35 mm), number of pods per plant (37.02), number of seeds per pod (16.85), pod weight per plant (10.93 g) and pod yield per plant (301.85 g) were higher at lower density plants (37,037 plants/ha) along with 60 kg P2O5/ha. The growth and yield characters like plant height (52.47 cm), TDM accumulation (3968.04 kg/ha), days to flowering (34.73 days), days to first picking (44.28 days) and pod yield (152.87 q//ha) were showed better expression in case of high density planting (74,074 plants/ha) along with 60 kg P2O5/ha. The interaction effect of plant densities and phosphorus levels were significant on plant height, total dry matter accumulation and days to flowering, pod length, pod weight per plant, and yield per plant and pod yield /ha.
Key words: Growth, yield, plant density, phosphorus level, vegetable cowpea
Cowpea plays a substantial role by serving as a grain and vegetable crop mainly for the rural people in the East, West, South and Central parts of Africa (Mortimore et al., 1997). According to FAO (2007), cowpea is produced annually on 11.2 mha ranking 3rd after common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) with Africa taking the lead followed by Asia. It is extensively grown in South India
K. RAVI KUMAR1 AND V. SUDHA VANI2
Department of Horticulture, College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem-534 101,
Andhra Pradesh, India. E-mail : ravikuna4u@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
A field experiment was conducted at College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem to study the effect of plant density and phosphorus levels on the growth and yield of vegetable cowpea variety Arka Garima under irrigated conditions. The study revealed that the crop responded to plant densities as well as phosphorus levels. The biometric characters like number of primary branches per plant (8.52), pod length (21.31 cm), pod girth (12.35 mm), number of pods per plant (37.02), number of seeds per pod (16.85), pod weight per plant (10.93 g) and pod yield per plant (301.85 g) were higher at lower density plants (37,037 plants/ha) along with 60 kg P2O5/ha. The growth and yield characters like plant height (52.47 cm), TDM accumulation (3968.04 kg/ha), days to flowering (34.73 days), days to first picking (44.28 days) and pod yield (152.87 q//ha) were showed better expression in case of high density planting (74,074 plants/ha) along with 60 kg P2O5/ha. The interaction effect of plant densities and phosphorus levels were significant on plant height, total dry matter accumulation and days to flowering, pod length, pod weight per plant, and yield per plant and pod yield /ha.
Key words: Growth, yield, plant density, phosphorus level, vegetable cowpea
Cowpea plays a substantial role by serving as a grain and vegetable crop mainly for the rural people in the East, West, South and Central parts of Africa (Mortimore et al., 1997). According to FAO (2007), cowpea is produced annually on 11.2 mha ranking 3rd after common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) with Africa taking the lead followed by Asia. It is extensively grown in South India
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