Scribd
Upload
213 views2 pages

Cowpea: Site Selection and Land Preparation

The cowpea is an important legume crop that grows well in dry climates. It fixes its own nitrogen and does not require much fertilizer. The seeds are a good source of protein and vitamins. The pods and leaves can be eaten as vegetables when immature. Cowpeas prefer well-drained, fertile soil between pH 5.5-6.5. Seeds are planted 2-3 per hill at a depth of 2.5-5cm and thinned to 2 plants per hill after emergence. Fertilizer is applied at specific rates 14 days after planting. The crop requires weeding, insecticide treatments for pests like aphids, and fungicide sprays to control diseases like

Uploaded by

jhoe elias
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
213 views2 pages

Cowpea: Site Selection and Land Preparation

The cowpea is an important legume crop that grows well in dry climates. It fixes its own nitrogen and does not require much fertilizer. The seeds are a good source of protein and vitamins. The pods and leaves can be eaten as vegetables when immature. Cowpeas prefer well-drained, fertile soil between pH 5.5-6.5. Seeds are planted 2-3 per hill at a depth of 2.5-5cm and thinned to 2 plants per hill after emergence. Fertilizer is applied at specific rates 14 days after planting. The crop requires weeding, insecticide treatments for pests like aphids, and fungicide sprays to control diseases like

Uploaded by

jhoe elias
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

COWPEA

The Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata is one of the most

indousagriseeds.trustpass.alibaba.com
important legume crop in semi-arid tropics. The seeds are
good source of proteins and vitamins for human and food for
animals. The immature pods and young leaves of cowpea are
eaten as vegetables.

Cowpea plant grows best in dry climate. It can be grown


throughout the year and does not require too much nitrogen
because it has an ability to fix its own nitrogen from the air
using nodules from the roots.

SITE SELECTION AND LAND PREPARATION

A well-drained, fertile, and sandy loam to clay loam


type of soil with pH value of 5.5 to 6.5 is good for cowpea
production.

Prepare the land thoroughly by alternate plowing


and harrowing until the desired tilt was achieved. Construct
furrows with a row spacing of 75-80 centimeters.

PLANTING

Sow 2-3 seeds per hill in a furrow spacing of 20-30 centimeters between hills. The depth
of the seeds should be 2.5 to 5 centimeters only to avoid rotting and uneven plant growth.
Replant the missing hills 3 days after emergence. Thin-out the plants 2 weeks after planting,
leaving 2 healthy plants per hill.

Remove the seedlings 10 days after emergence. Leave 10-15 plants per meter.

FERTILIZER APPLICATION

Type of Rate of Fertilizer/ Time of


Method of Application
Fertilizer ha. Application

14-14-14 4 bags
14 days after
46-0-0 1 bag Drill along furrows
planting
0-0-60 1 bag
IRRIGATION

Irrigate the field weekly throughout the growing period of the cowpea.

WEEDING AND CULTIVATION

Controlling weeds is necessary


at 14 days after planting. Remove the
weeds manually or cultivate the soil
using cultivator. Spot weeding is done to
minimize weeds in the area.

INSECT PESTS AND DISEASE CONTROL

Insect Control
Leafminer Spray insecticide (Carbaryl) Diseases Control
Aphids Spray insecticide (Chlorpyrifos) Anthracnose Crop rotation, use quality
Cutworms Spray insecticide (Cypermethrin) Root rot seeds, use resistant
Damping-off variety, uproot and burry
Semi-looper Spray insecticide (Chlorpyrifos)
Leaf spot
Bean pod borer Spray insecticide (Carbaryl) infected plants and
Rust
spray fungicides such as
Spray insecticide
Beanfly Fusarium wilt Benomyl and Mancozeb
(Methonyl,Chlorpyrofos)

OTHER CONTROL METHODS

Plant repellant crops around the production area (marigold and chichirica)
Maintain the cleanliness of the production area

HARVESTING

If it is used as vegetable,
harvest immature pods usually 7 to
9 days after flowers have opened at
interval of 3 to 5 days. However, if
is for seed production, harvest only
when the pod color turns into brown,
then dry the seeds gradually under
the sun to prevent seed cracking.

For more information, write, visit, or call:


NUEVA ECIJA FRUITS & VEGETABLES SEED CENTER
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, 3119 Nueva Ecija
0916-508-3569

Reprinted with permission from the NUEVA ECIJA FRUITS & VEGETABLES SEED CENTER

You might also like