Growth and Yield Responses of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) as Influenced by Crop Geometry and Nutrient Management Practices

Abstract

Background: Inclusion of legume with cereal as an intercrop ensure crop nutrition and enhanced soil quality. Combine application of organic manure with inorganic fertilizer minimizes the soil hazard and improves crop productivity in a significant manner. Methods: The experiment on Kharif maize +cowpea intercropping system was carried out at ‘Jaguli Instructional Farm’ of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, under the New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal in 2019-2020 to investigate the influence of crop geometry and nutrient management practices on growth and yield responses of legume (cowpea). The experiment was laid out with a split-plot design. The main plot had five crop geometry and a sub plot comprised five nutrient management practices, which were replicated thrice. Result: From the pooled data of two years experiment, the intercropping system of 1M:1C (Maize: Cowpea) (C3) perform better in respect of growth attributes, viz., leaves plant-1, LAI, branches plant-1 and CGR; yield reflecting attributes viz., pods plant-1, pod length, pod and forage yield of cowpea (1.30 and 5.49 t ha-1) and crop (maize) equivalent yield of cowpea (1.76 t ha-1) although the maximum values were attained from sole cowpea treatment (C2). Nutrient management practices with the application of 75% N as chemical + 25% N as organic with seaweed application (N2) recorded greater growth and yield viz., pod, forage and crop (maize) equivalent yield (1.51, 6 and 2.01 t ha-1), respectively. Total nodules plant-1 were significantly influenced by crop geometry and nutrient management, whereas the total chlorophyll content of cowpea was significantly varied with nutrient management. Regression studies depicted the negative functional relationship between pod yield and canopy temperature, whereas the relationship between intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and pod yield was positive.