Responses of Cowpea to Phosphorous Application Rates and Row Spacing in the Sudan Savanna Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Field trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of rates of Phosphorus fertilizer and intra-row spacings on growth and yield of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) in the Sudan Savana zone of Nigeria, during 2018 cropping season at Mohammet Lawan college of Agriculture, Maiduguri (110 50’ N, 130 10’ E, altitude 354 above sea level, altitude 354 above sea level. The experiment consisted of five (5) Phosphorus rates (0, 20, 40, 50 and 60 kg Pha-1) and five (5) intra-row spacings (15, 20, 25 30 and 35cm). The treatments were arranged in a split plot design and replicated three times at each site. Phosphorus rates were assigned to the main plot and intra-row spacings in the sub-plot. The objective was to determine the optimum rate of phosphorus fertilizer that will increase yield performance of cowpea in Sudan savanna zone of Nigeria and determine the most suitable intra-row spacing that will increase yield of cowpea in Sudan Savanna of Nigeria. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves per plant, days to 50% flowering, number of grain per pod, 100 grain weight, grain yield per hectare and fodder yield per plant respectively. Application of P fertilizer significantly influenced most of the growth and yield characters as well as the yield. Grain yield per hectare were optimum at 50kg Pha-1 Contrary to above finding, number of grain per pod and 1000-grain were all not influenced by the application of P fertilizer and intra-row spacing.