• Contact Us
    • Send Feedback
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • View Item
    •   Home
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

    Whole Repository
    CollectionsIssue DateRegionCountryHubAffiliationAuthorsTitlesSubject
    This Sub-collection
    Issue DateRegionCountryHubAffiliationAuthorsTitlesSubject

    My Account

    Login

    Welcome to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Research Repository

    What would you like to view today?

    Effects of plant density on the performance of cowpea in Nigerian Savannas

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    U16ArtKamaraEffectsInthomNodev.pdf (194.7Kb)
    Date
    2016
    Author
    Kamara, A.
    Tofa, A.I.
    Kyei-Boahen, S.
    Solomon, R.
    Ajeigbe, Hakeem A.
    Kamai, N.
    Type
    Journal Article
    Target Audience
    Scientists
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract/Description
    Grain yields of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] in the Nigerian savannas are low even with the cultivation of improved varieties. The recommended spacing for cowpea is 75 × 20 cm with two seeds planted per stand. This corresponds to plant population of 133333 plants ha−1, which may not be sufficient for optimal cowpea yield. Field experiments were conducted to determine plant density effects on cowpea performance in the Northern Guinea and the Sudan savannas of Nigeria and also to determine if genotypes varied in their response to plant density. Four cowpea varieties with contrasting maturity duration were planted in single, double and triple rows on ridges spaced 75 cm apart to achieve corresponding densities of 133333, 266666 and 400000 plants ha−1, respectively. Plant densities of 266666 and 400000 plants ha−1 gave higher crop performance in terms of light interception, biomass production, yield and yield components for all cowpea varieties. Yield increases were related largely to increased pod and seed production but the effect of seed size on yield was relatively minor. Our results provide evidence that the current density of 133333 plants ha−1 used by farmers is not optimum for cowpea production. Smallholder farmers can increase cowpea grain and fodder yields if they use a density of 266666 plants ha−1 in cowpea cultivation. Further yield increases when cowpea is planted at 400000 plants ha−1 may not be sufficient to offset the cost of seed.
    https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479716000715
    Multi standard citation
    Permanent link to this item
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/1373
    Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
    https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479716000715
    IITA Subjects
    Cowpea; Grain Legumes
    Agrovoc Terms
    Cowpeas; Crop Protection; Planting; Grain Legumes; Plant Density
    Regions
    Africa; West Africa
    Countries
    Nigeria
    Journals
    Experimental Agriculture
    Collections
    • Journal and Journal Articles4836
    copyright © 2019  IITASpace. All rights reserved.
    IITA | Open Access Repository