Agriculture

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COWPEA

General Information

Cow pea is oldest annual legume grown throughout India for green pods, dry seeds, green manure and fodder purpose. It is consider as crop of African origin. It is drought hardy crop also quick growing thus suppressed weeds during initial stage. It also helps to conserved soil and moisture. Cowpea is a good source of protein, calcium and iron. 
 
It is popular crop of Western Uttar Pradesh.

Climate

  • Season

    Temperature
    22-35°C
  • Season

    Rainfall
    750-1100mm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    22-28°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature
    30-35°C
  • Season

    Temperature
    22-35°C
  • Season

    Rainfall
    750-1100mm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    22-28°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature
    30-35°C
  • Season

    Temperature
    22-35°C
  • Season

    Rainfall
    750-1100mm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    22-28°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature
    30-35°C
  • Season

    Temperature
    22-35°C
  • Season

    Rainfall
    750-1100mm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    22-28°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature
    30-35°C

Soil

It can be grown in variety of soils but gives best result when grown on well drained loamy soils.

Popular Varieties With Their Yield

TA 5269: Cultivated for pod purpose. It is ready to harvest in 50-60days. Gives average yield of 20-24 Quintals/acre.
 
TA 2: Gives average green yield of 120-130 Quintals/acre. 
 
UPC-5287: Gives average green fodder yield of 14-16 tonnes/acre
 
UPC 4200: Gives average yield of 140-160 Quintals/acre.
 
Russian Giant: Gives average yield of 140 Quintals/acre.
 
IGF 450: gives average yield of 140 Quintals/acre.
 
Kashi Kanchan: Dwarf and busy variety, suitable for cultivation in summer as well as rainy season. Pods are soft and of dark green color. It gives average pod yield of 60-70 Quintals/acre.
 
Kashi Shyamal : Developed by Indian Institute of Vegetable Research. 
 
Kashi Gauri: Developed by Indian Institute of Vegetable Research.
 
Kashi Unnati: Pods are of soft and light green color. For first cutting ready to harvest in 40-45 days after sowing. Gives average yield of 50-60 Quintals/acre.
 
UPC-5286: Gives average green fodder yield of 12-18 tonnes/acre

IFC-8401: Gives average green fodder yield of 12-18 tonnes/acre
 
Cowpea 88: Recommended for cultivation throughout state. It is grown for fodder as well as for grain purpose. Its pods are large and seeds are bold having chocolate brown seed color. It is resistant to yellow mosaic and Anthracnose disease. It gives average seed yield of 4.4 Quintals/acre and 100q tl/acre of green fodder.   
 
Pusa su Komal: Gives average yield of 40 Quintals/acre.
 
Other states Varieties
 
IGFRI-450: Gives average green fodder yield of 12-16 tonnes/acre
 
IFC-8503, EC-4216: Gives average green fodder yield of 12-16 tonnes/acre
 
CL 367: It can be grown for fodder as well as for grain purpose. It bear large no of pods. Its seeds are small with creamy white color. It gives resistance to yellow mosaic virus and anthracnose disease. It gives average seed yield of 4.9 Quintals/acre and 108 Quintals/acre of green fodder.  

Land Preparation

It required normal bed preparation like other pulse crops. Give two ploughing to bring soil to fine tilth and carry out planking after each ploughing.

Sowing

Time of sowing
Optimum time for cowpea sowing is with onset of monsoon. Complete sowing in month of July.
 
Spacing
While sowing use row to row spacing of 45-50 cm and plant to plant spacing of 15cm. For TA 2 variety, use spacing of 45-50 cm between rows whereas for TA 5269 use row to row spacing of 50 cm.
 
Method of sowing
For grain purpose, sow seed with help of pora or seed cum fertilizer drill. Whereas, for green manure purpose, use broadcasting method.

Seed

Seed Rate
Use seed rate of 12 kg per acre. For TA 5269 use seed rate of 8 kg/acre whereas for TA 2 variety, use seed rate of 16 kg/acre.
 
Seed Treatment
Before sowing, treat seed with Thiram@2.5 gram/kg of seed or Carbendazim 50%WP@2 gram per kg of seed. It will protect seed from seed rot and seedling mortality.

Fertilizer

Before sowing, apply Nitrogen@7.5kg in form of Urea@16.5 kg/acre along with P@20 kg in form of Single Super Phosphate@125 kg/acre. Cowpea responds well to Phosphorus fertilizers. It helps to improves root as well as plant growth, plant nutrient uptake, nodulations etc.  

Irrigation

Apply irrigation depending upon rainfall frequency and intensity. Apply one or two irrigation in case delay of rainfall for pro-long period.

Weed Control

To protect crop from weed, application of Pendimethalin@750ml/acre in 200Ltr of water within 24 hours should be done after sowing.

Plant protection

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  • Insect Pest and their control:
Jassid and Black Aphid: If infestation of jassid and black aphid is observed, take spray of Malathion 50EC@200ml/acre in 80-100Ltrs of water. 
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Bihar hairy caterpillar: Its infestation is high in month of August to November. To protect crop from this pest, take one row of sesame seeds around cowpea field at time of sowing.

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  • Disease and their control:
Seed rot and seeding mortality: It is caused by various seed-borne microflora. The infected seeds are shriveled and discoloured. Infected seedlings are killed before these emerge out of soil and cause poor stand of the crop. For its control treat seed with Emisan 6 @2.5 g/kg seed or Bavistin  50WP @ 2g/kg seed before sowing.

Harvesting

55 to 65days after, crop is ready for harvesting.

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