Effect of Organic nutrition on growth and yield of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was entitled “Effect of Organic nutrition on growth and yield of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in the Crop Research Farm, Naini Agriculture Institute, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj during Kharif season 2024 on cowpea crop. The treatments applied were of organic manure consisting of Farm Yard Manure 5 t/ha, and Vermicompost 2.5 t/ha and Foliar application at 25 and 40 DAS by Panchagavya 3%, 5%, and 7%. The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, neutral in soil reaction (pH 6.8), organic carbon (0.562%), available N (220.00 kg/ha), available P (28.2 kg/ha) and available K (240.7 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design which consisted of ten treatments and replicated thrice. The result showed that significantly higher growth parameters viz., Plant height (90.53 cm), number of nodules (10.38/plant), dry weight (16.09 g/plant), pods/plant (11.07), seed/pod (10.40), test weight (37.12) and yield attributes and yield grain yield (1484.15 kg/ha) and stover yield (2675.00 kg/ha) were recorded in treatment 9 (FYM 2.5 t/ha + Vermicompost 1 t/ha + Panchagavya 7%) compared to other treatments. and Maximum gross return (INR 143685.15/ha), net return (INR 97904.90/ha) and B:C ratio (2.13) were also recorded in treatment 9 (FYM 2.5 t/ha + Vermicompost 1 t/ha + Panchagavya 7%). It is concluded that application of FYM 2.5 t/ha and Vermicompost 1 t/ha along with Panchagavya 7% in Treatment 9 in Cowpea has recorded highest grain yield, stover yield, gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio respectively.