Privi Life Sciences - Crop Journal

Cowpea

Crop Category

Pulses

Applicable Product

Description

Cowpea is an annual herbaceous legume and is also known as Black Eyed Bean, Asparagus Bean, Cream Pea and Southern Pea.

In India it is cultivated mainly in arid and semi-arid regions.

The major Cowpea growing states are Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, U.P, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

Taxonomic Classification

Botanical name: Vigna unguiculata

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Vigna
Species: unguiculata

Economically Important Part

Seeds are the most economically important part of Cowpea
Green leaves can be used as fodder for animals.

Conditions for Cultivation

Cowpea is a warm weather and semi arid crop, growing well in temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C.

Minimum temperature for seed establishment is 20°C and above 32°C temperatures development of roots cease.

It can grow successfully in acidic soil but not in saline/alkaline soil.

Cowpea is well-drained Sandy loam soil or Sandy soil with a soil pH in the range of 6 to 7, although its sensitive to water-logging conditions.

Major Challenges

The major challenges involve Biotic and Abiotic causes.
Biotic Causes:
- Major Pesst: Aphids, Armyworms, Corn Earworm and Mexican Beetle
- Major Diseases: Anthracnose, Ascochyta blight, Brown Rust, Cercospora Leaf Spot and Charcoal Rot.
Abiotic Causes
- Chlorosis
- Browning
- Drought Injury
- Necrosis

Crop Schedule

Crop Stage	Products	Dosage	Method Of Application	Benefits
Basal fertilizer	Geoxol.COM	15 kg / hectare / application with basal fertilizer, if soil organic carbon (more than/equal to 0.5%) and bulk denisty (less than or equal to 1.6 g/cm3)	Soil Application	Rejuvenates soil for sustainable growth of crops
At the time of sowing or 3-4 weeks after sowing	Mycoxol4G	500 g / hectare / application, if soil pH (less than /equal to 7.5) and availale P (more than /equal to 15 kg/ha)	Soil Application	Reduces incidence of soil borne diseases. Improves availability of phosphorous and other micronutrients
Deficiency of Zinc	Nutrin Zn	650 g / hectare / application, if soil Zn (less than 0.6 ppm), repeat application is recommended based on deficiency	Foliar Application	Corrects Zinc deficiency
Deficiency of Iron	Nutrin Fe	650 g / hectare / application, if soil Fe (less than 4.5 ppm), repeat application is recommended based on deficiency	Foliar Application	Corrects Iron deficiency
Vegetative growth	PeakMAX	1000 ml / hectare / application	Foliar Application	Improves vegetative growth and reduces disease pressure
Vegetative growth	Nutrin Combo	650g / hectare / application	Foliar Application	Fulfills micronutrient requirement
Pre-flowering	Amply5	1000 ml / hectare / application	Foliar Application	Triggers flowering
2nd flush of flowering	Amply5	1000 ml / hectare / application	Foliar Application	Triggers flowering and promotes pod formation
Pod filling	Silixol OSA	1000 ml / hectare / application	Foliar Application	Optimizes source sink relation
Pod filling	Nutrin Combo	650g / hectare / application, if pH (more than 7.5)	Foliar Application	Improves quality of seeds
Pod filling	PeakMAX	1000 ml / hectare / application	Foliar Application	Reduces disease pressure
Deficiency of Iron	Nutrin Fe 12%	650 g / hectare / application, if soil Fe (less than 4.5 ppm),repeat application is recommended based on deficiency. Suitable for foliar sprays for crops grown on all types of soil.	Foliar spray	Corrects Iron deficiency
Deficiency of Iron	Nutrin Fe EDDHA 6%	2.5-5.0 kg / hectare / application, if soil Fe (less than 4.5 ppm),repeat application is recommended based on deficiency. Suitable for calcerous soils with pH above 7.5	Soil application	Corrects Iron deficiency
Deficiency of Boron	Nutrin Boron 20%	650 g / hectare / application, if soil Fe (less than 25 ppm),repeat application is recommended based on deficiency	Foliar spray	Corrects Boron deficiency
After 15-20 days of crop establishment	Mycoxol 4G	500 g/hectare/application, if soil pH (less than or equal to 7.5) and availble P (more than 15 kg/ha) - if fertigation is available	Soil application	Reduces incidence of soil borne diseases, improves availability of phosphorous and other micronutrients
After 15-20 days of crop establishment	Mycoxol Granules	10-20 Kg/ha/application, depending upon soil properties - if crop is on flood irrigation	Soil application	Reduces incidence of soil borne diseases, improves availability of phosphorous and other micronutrients

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