For average yields to be attained, cowpea should be accompanied by either heavy doses of insecticides or specific management measures such as intercropping or mixed cropping. Despite the dramatic increase in cowpea production in the subsaharan africa, cowpea yields remain one of the lowest among all food legume crops, averaging at 450kgha in 20062008, which is half of the. In the forest zone, cowpea may not be grown as the first crop on lands that have been in fallow for more than 10 years. It is an excellent cover crop, which suppresses weeds and enriches the soil.
Cowpeabeans cultivation agricultural business information. Varieties co 2, vbn 2, pusa komal, pkm 1 and arka garima are commonly cultivated. The habit of the plant varies greatly, some varieties being erect or bushlike and others distinctly trailing. That notwithstanding, based on information available from food and agricul ture organization fao, the estimate that over 3,3 tons of cowpeas were produced worldwide in 2000 from at least 12,5 million ha. It is quite impressive to observe farmers doing cowpea cultivation in good areas of land, despite small land holdings. With good agronomic practices and the right varieties, cowpea can yield about 2500 kgha when grown in monocrop. Under such conditions, the dead spots merge and large areas of the leaves are affected. However, yields of cowpea remain low, mainly due to. Being indigenous to africa, a number of plant types that are cultivated in the major growing. Improved cowpea cultivation and seed production 87 cowpea uses and markets 125 future prospects of cowpea 145 glossary 158 selected references 165 about the author 169.
It is designed to serve as a basic reference document for participants in ilas cowpea production training courses. Although cowpea is known to be a quickgrowing weedfighter, it is less successful at suppressing perennial grasses, so cultivation of rows may. Particularly in nicaragua, with 73 percent of rural poverty and 53 percent of rural indigence cowpea crops known as alazin are promoted by certain ngos to improve soil and to prevent soil erosion. The cowpea vigna unguiculata is an annual herbaceous legume from the genus vigna. Krishi vigyan kendra senapati indian council of agricultural research cultivation practices of cowpea vigna unguiculata l walp and ricebean vigna umbellata thunb ohwi and ohashi as fodder crop. Adoption of kerala agricultural university recommended. Cowpea is a legume that is extensively grown throughout subsaharan africa. Doing so will increase flowering thereby increasing production. Millions of african farmers grow cowpea, some two hundred million africans consume. It is estimated that the annual world cowpea crop is grown on 12,5 million ha. Colquitt county, located in southwest georgia, leads the state in production with 1,900 acres. Cowpea farming, planting, care, harveting, yield agri. Although cowpea is known to be a quick growing weedfighter, it is less successful at suppressing perennial grasses, so cultivation of rows may. Pearl millet plants are generally a shortday plant, but some varieties of millet plants are day length neutral.
Nigeria is the worlds leading cowpea producing country, followed by. Pdf cowpea, vigna unguiculata, is an important grain legume adapted to the subsaharan africa ssa where it contributes to the nutrition, health, and. The cowpea root system also has a beneficial effect. It requires very few inputs, as the plants root nodules are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it a valuable crop for resourcepoor farmers and wellsuited to intercropping with. Tree bean cultivation and management agroforestry division krishi vigyan kendra, hengbung, senapati district manipur 795129. Growing cowpea is fairly straight forward, with management practices being similar to soybeans. These operations usually begin about a month before planting cowpeas. It differs from variety to variety which are cultivated in the north eastern region. Cowpea production guidelines zambia agribusiness society. Crop profile for cowpeas in georgia uga cooperative. The grain provides valuable protein and the leaves are used as a nutritious vegetable. Cowpea is welladapted to sandy soils, and will perform well on rich, well drained soils, but should not be grown on wet or poorly drained soils. It can be grown and harvested in as little as 6080 days. The production guide is meant to provide field based agricultural extension personnel and farmers with quick reference material to guide them in the promotion of cowpea production.
Cultural practices propagation cowpea is grown directly from seed. Further yield increases when cowpea is planted at 400000 plants ha. Cowpea is grown in more than twothirds of the developing world as a companion or relay crop with major cereals crop tarawali et al. In fact, it is estimated that 200 million children, women, and men live off the. The cowpea crop will be ready for harvesting in 3 to 4 months for short duration crop and 4 months to 5 months for long duration crop. Green fodder production information guide agri farming. It is an important vegetable leaves and grain in the diets of smallholder households. Its tender leaves and young pods are also edible and can be used to make delicious and nutritious vegetable dishes. Padmananabhan2 abstract the study was conducted in thiruvananthapuram district of kerala. Worldwide cowpea production in 1981 was estimated at 2,7 million tons from 7,7 mil lion ha.
Most domestic cowpea production is mechanically harvested, however, hand harvested cowpeas suffer less damage and the harvest season may continue over a 1 to 3 week period. Vigna unguiculata cowpea is a food and animal feed crop grown in the semiarid tropics covering africa, asia, europe, united states and central and south america. West and central africa is the leading cowpea producing region in the world. Cowpea is a quick growing leguminous forage crop usually grown mixed with cereal fodders and grasses to improve the nutritive value of the herbage. It originated and was domesticated in southern africa and was later moved to east and west africa. Cowpea also known as a blackeyed pea is grown mainly for its edible beans, but what many people dont know is that the crop can be grown as a vegetable. These plants sensitive to low temperatures at the seedling stage and at flowering period. Cowpea is useful for feeding in green form, for hay making or for ensiling in mixtures with sorghum or maize. Cowpea vigna unguiculata, is a food and animal feed crop grown in the semiarid tro rich in potassium with good amount of calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, vitamin a and c, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin b6, and panthothenic acid, cowpea is a warm season crop that cannot stand cold weather. It is often interseeded into corn for weed suppression clark, 2007.
Soil well drained soil with rich organic matter content and warm humid climate is best suited for the cultivation of vegetable cowpea. Longterm incorporation of annual legumes such as cowpea will increase the soil humus content, but at a slower rate than would grass cover crops. A summergrowing annual more closely related to the bean than to the pea, grown for forage, for greenmanuring and covercropping, and sometimes for human food. Cowpea is an annual crop and this can be grown in grown in tropics, subtropics and warm temperature regions. It can be grown in kharif as well s in zaid reason. General guide for cowpea cultivation and seed production published on oct 4, 2011 this bulletin provides information on cowpea culture to serve as a guide to farmers and seed producing agencies. Row crop cultivation is best recommended method cultivation for cowpeas, depending on the weed pressure, soil conditions, and rainfall. In 1996, the total world area was about 12 million ha, and africa alone accounted. It provides a nutritious grain and a less expensive source of protein for both rural and urban poor consumers inaizumi et al. Ninety farmers engaged in commercial cultivation of amaranthus and vegetable cowpea were. One person can hand harvest 12 to 20 bushels of cowpea pods per day.
Ipm proves most effective in controlling insect pests of. Growing one or two rows of cowpea in widely spaced crops and incorporating the biomass after picking pods can increase soil fertility and yield of companion crop. Cowpea can be grown under partial shade conditions. Co 5 cultivar suitable for growing under irrigated conditions. Ipm proves most effective in controlling insect pests of cowpea in africa international pesticide benefits case study no. The vast majority of the worlds cowpea production over 95% takes place in subsaharan africa figure 5. Growing pearl millet, cultivation practices for beginners. Soil cowpea grows on a wide range of soils but shows a preference for sandy soils that are less restrictive to root growth. Even though cowpea is widely adapted crop across various climatic conditions, soils, seasons, and regions, still the production might go down because of pest and disease. In subtropical zones temperatures are only suitable for cowpea in the summer, whereas temperatures are suitable yearround in tropical zones. Growing cowpeas, cultivation practices for beginners. Table 4 reveals that 46 percent of farmers are growing cowpea in areas of 0. This descriptor list for cowpea, vigna unguiculata l.
The initial symptoms appear as tiny dots on the leaves. Cowpea can be planted in mixtures with buckwheat or sorghumsudangrass to maximize its potential to suppress weeds. Walp is one of the most ancient human food sourc es and has probably been used as a. A social insect that live underground in colonies, attack young. Cowpea pods are packed, 25 pounds net, in bushel hampers or mesh bags not burlap sacks. General guide for cowpea cultivation and seed production. Cowpea, vigna unguiculata, annual plant within the pea family fabaceae grown for its edible legumes. Cowpea is tolerant to drought but sensitive to waterlogging and usually grown under a dryland system. How to grow cowpea as a leafy vegetable in your small garden. Production guidelines for cowpea ethical suppliers.
Introduction on the basis of area cultivated, cowpea is the most important food legume in ghana. This descriptor list has been prepared in an ibpgr standard format following advice on descriptors and descriptor states from the crop experts throughout the world. The importance of cowpea as a crop that cannot be dispensed with in the agriculture of the subsistence farmers in south sudan and the characteristics of cowpea plant type of roots, leaves, stem. Cowpea can be grown on a wide range of soil, from predominantly sandy loam to clay ranging from acidic to basic ph 4. The present work provides information related to cowpea crops and mostly on cowpea. The pea crop grows best in areas having coolgrowing season of at least five months duration. The plants are thought to be native to west africa and are widely cultivated in warm regions around the world. In addition to their use as a proteinrich food crop, cowpeas are extensively grown. Cowpea is grown as a lowinput pulse by many smallholder farmers in zimbabwe. Production guidelines for cowpeas agricultural research council. Descriptors list for characterisation and evaluation 6.
Fabaceae landrace diversity in southern ethiopia sisay alemu deresse a thesis submitted to the department of plant biology and biodiversity management. Annual grasses and some broadleaf weeds can be controlled by a presowing application of herbicide. Nigeria is the worlds leading cowpea producing country, followed by brazil. This cowpea crop profile is the first in the southeast united states and. It is a subsistence crop, often intercropped with sorghum, maize and pearl millet.
Cultivation practices of cowpea vigna unguiculata l walp and. Effect of phosphorus fertilizer on growth and yield of. Adoption of kerala agricultural university recommended practices of amaranthus and vegetable cowpea k. Georgia ranks in the nations top 10 in cowpea southern pea, vigna unguiculata production, with estimates of more than 4,900 acres grown in approximately 49 of 159 counties in the state in the 2014 production season.