Effect of varieties and plant geometry on growth and yield of grain cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, U.P. during kharif 2024 on loamy sand soil. The field experiments to evaluate the growth and yield of three cowpea varieties (Kashi Kanchan, Sadabahar and Gomti) were sown in three plants spacing (30 cm ×15cm, 40 cm×10 cm and 50 cm×10 cm). A randomised complete block design with three replications were used for the field experiments. The cowpea variety were Sadabahar and Plant Spacing of 40 cm × 10 cm containing provides better performance for growth and yield attributes, compared to variety Kashi Kanchan, Gomti and other Plant geometry. From the experiment it is determined that neither higher nor lesser plant density gives maximum productivity but felicitous number of plants depending upon canopy coverage area of variety and its characteristics are required for higher productivity.