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THE EFFECTS OF SOURCES AND LEVELS OF PHOSPHORUS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) VARIETIES
Abstract:
An experiment was conducted at Samaru during the wet season to study the effect of sources and levels of phosphorus on the growth and yield of cowpes (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) varieties. The treatments consisted of four cowpea varieties (1696, SVU48, 176B, 339-1); four P-levels (0, 18.5, 37.0, 55.5 kg P2O5/ha), and two P-sources (Diammonium phosphate ‘DAP’, single superphosphate ‘SSP’). The study revealed that cowpea growth was better with the use of SSP than DAP. Crop growth and yield increased significantly with increasing P-levels and application of 37 kg P2O5/ha gave 54% higher seed yield than the control. No significant yield advantages were obtained with applying higher P-levels. Although 1696 grew more vigorously than the other varieties, it did not produce harvestable yields. SVUI48 yielded and 30%higher than 176B and 339-1 respectively. The interaction effect of P-levels x variety influenced grain yield significantly, while P-sources x variety significantly influenced crop earliness to flowering, number of flowers, pods, seeds and pod weight per plant. Grain yield was significantly and positively correlated with yield components (number of flowers, pods, seeds per plant, 1000- seed weight) and with growth characters (plant height, number of leaves and leaf area per plant. The study, therefore, confirms the adequacy of the current IAR recommendation of 37 kg P2O5ha and reveals the superiority of SSP over DAP for cowpea production in the Nigerian savannas.
THE EFFECTS OF SOURCES AND LEVELS OF PHOSPHORUS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) VARIETIES
