Horticulture :: Vegetables:: Vegetable cowpea

Horticulture :: Vegetables:: Vegetable cowpea

Vegetable Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.) Fabaceae Varieties Co 2, VBN 2, Pusa Komal, PKM 1 and Arka Garima are commonly cultivated. Soil Well drained soil with rich organic matter content and warm humid climate is best suited for the cultivation of vegetable cowpea. Season June – July (Rainfed), February – March (irrigated) Seed rate 20 kg of seeds/ha is required. Seed treatment Treat the seeds with Rhizobium bacterial culture 600 g before sowing. Preparation of field Plough the field to fine tilth and form ridges and furrows at 45 cm apart or beds of convenient sizes. Sowing Dibble the seeds on both sides of the ridges or in lines in the beds at 45 x 15 cm spacing. Irrigation Give irrigation immediately after sowing and on 3rd day, thereafter once a week. Application of fertilizers Apply FYM 25 t/ha, Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria 2 kg /ha and N 25 kg and P 50 kg/ha for irrigated crop. Apply FYM at 12.5 t/ha and N 12.5 and P 25 kg/ha for rainfed crop.Fertilizers can be applied in several split doses at fortnightly intervals. Pinching Before flowering, the tendrils should be pinched thrice for getting bushy plants. After cultivation Give one hoeing and weeding on 25th day after sowing. Plant protection Pests Aphids Aphids can be controlled by spraying Dimethoate 30 EC 1 ml/lit or Methyl demeton 25 EC 1 ml/lit. Pod Borer Pod borer can be controlled by spraying Quinalphos 25 EC 2ml/lit. Diseases Powdery mildew Powdery mildew can be controlled by dusting Sulphur 25 kg/ha or spray Wettable sulphur 2 g/lit. Yield 2500 kg (rainfed) and 5000 kg (irrigated) in a crop duration of 75 to 90 days can be obtained.