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Growth and yield of determinate and indeterminate cowpeas in dryland agriculture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

G. S. Chaturvedi ,
P. K. Aggarwal  and
S. K. Sinha
G. S. Chaturvedi
Affiliation:
Water Technology Centre, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India
P. K. Aggarwal
Affiliation:
Water Technology Centre, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India
S. K. Sinha
Affiliation:
Water Technology Centre, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India
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Summary

Cowpea is an important food legume crop of arid and semi-arid regions of the tropics. In such climates whether a determinate or indeterminate type of growth habit would be more useful is not clear. In the present study a determinate and indeterminate cultivar of cowpea were grown at two population densities under rainfed conditions for 2 years. Grain yield was higher in the indeterminate variety for both years. At higher density more dry matter was produced but it had no effect on grain yield. Nitrogen analysis showed that it moved from leaves to developing pods. However, a large amount of nitrogen was still left in vegetative parts in contrast to cereals. Pod development was completed in 19 days and the rate of dry-matter accumulation during the peak period of growth was as high as 120 mg/day per fruit. It was difficult for the plant to cope with this high demand for photosynthates. It is suggested that more pods can develop on a plant provided the growth rate of individual pods is slower and extended to a longer period.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 94 , Issue 1 , February 1980 , pp. 137 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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