GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata L.) VARIETIES TO PLANT SPACING AT SIRINKA, NORTHERN b ETHIOPIA

Atlaw, Zenebe 56 PAGES (15646 WORDS) Agronomy Thesis

Abstract:

The production of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) has been increasing in Ethiopia because of its high nutritive value for food and feed. Nevertheless, the yield is extremely low. One of the agronomic practices to increase its productivity is use of optimum plant density. However, there has been no recommended plant spacing regardless of variety and agro-climatic conditions. In view of this, a field experiment was conducted at Sirinka Agricultural research center, northern Ethiopia, during 2016 cropping season to assess the effects of different inter-row (40, 50, 60 cm ) and intra-row spacing (10, 15, 20 cm) on growth parameters, yield components and yield of two cowpea varieties namely Asebot and Bekur. Randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications was used. The result indicated that days to 50% flowering, days to 90% maturity, plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, hundred seed weight, harvest index and grain yield were highly significant