Abstract
High protein content in cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is considered as major advantage for its use in nutritional components. In this way, an experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of cropping system, site, and nitrogen fertilization on cowpea crude protein. The study comprised of three cropping systems (Maize-cowpea rotation, monocropping cowpea and intercropped cowpea), three sites (Potchefstroom, Taung, and Rustenburg, South Africa) and two rates of nitrogen fertilizers applied in kg ha -1 at each site (0 and 20 at Potchefstroom, 0 and 17 at Rustenburg, 0 and 23 at Taung). Moreover, a factorial experiment randomized in complete block design with three replications was conducted during 2011/12 and 2012/13 planting seasons. The protein content was determined from green leaves harvested before flowering, immature green pods and seeds during reproductive stage and maturity. Results showed that cropping system had significant effect on cowpea leaf protein content (P < 0.05). Intercropped cowpea significantly gave higher leaf protein (26.7% more) content than rotational cowpea. Cowpea planted at Taung had significantly higher leaf protein (30.1% more) content as compared to cowpea planted at other sites. Application of nitrogen fertilizer contributed to higher protein content of immature pods. Moreover, cowpea protein content differs among the different locations due to different soil types and climatic conditions.
Highlights
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) plant parts such as leaves, pods and seeds are eaten by people and are rich in protein
The study was conducted at three dryland sites in South Africa, namely the department of Agriculture experimental station in Taung situated at 27°30′S and 24°30′E, Agriculture Research Council-Grain Crops Institute (ARC-GCI) experimental station in Potchefstroom situated at 27°26′S and 27°26′E, and the Agricultural Research Council-Institute for Industrial Crops (ARC-IIC) experimental station in Rustenburg 25°43′S and 27°18′E
Cowpea planted at Taung and Potchefstroom had significantly higher leaf protein content (30.1 and 26.0% more, respectively) than cowpea planted at Rustenburg (P < 0.05)
Summary
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) plant parts such as leaves, pods and seeds are eaten by people and are rich in protein. Since cowpea is a major source of protein in diet of many people in sub-Saharan Africa, any effort made to increase the level of protein in the seed would improve the quality of the diet of the population (Vadivel & Pugalenthi, 2010). Some people eat both fresh pods and leaves and the dried seeds are popular ingredients in various dishes (El Naim et al, 2012). In many areas of the world, cowpea foliage is an important source of high quality hay for livestock feed (Timko & Singh, 2008). Singh and Basu (2012) found that the protein in grain legumes like cowpea has been shown to reduce low density lipoproteins that are implicated in heart diseases
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