Early-maturing variety

By Our Agriculture Correspondent

Scientists at the department of Plant Breeding and Genetics in the College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Vellayani, have developed an early-maturing, high-yielding grain cowpea.

The improved variety was recently released for commercial cultivation by the farmers of KAU.

Chirstened `Shubhra', the new grain cowpea variety is ideally suited for cultivation in summer rice fallows. Developed through the method of recombination breeding by crossing IC 38956 and Chharodi, `Subhead' is an erect type with slight trailing habit and moderate branching. It can grow to a height of 80 cm.

The stem of the plant is green and the leaves dark green. It produces white flowers. The pods are green when tender. They are held upright, and are about 12 cm in length. On an average, each plant produces about 14 pods, each containing about 13 seeds.

The seeds are white with brown hilum. Hundred seeds weigh on an average 6.8 g. The variety matures in 67 days and yields about 988 kg per hectare. The harvest can be done as two pickings.

The grains contain 22.7 per cent protein and are of high cooking quality. The variety is not attacked any major pest or disease in the field conditions, according to the scientists. The high yield potential and synchronous maturity are the attractive features of this improved cowpea variety.

`Shubhra' has been found to be far superior to both its parents. It grows taller than both the parents. Its female parent (IC 38956) grows erectly to a height of 70 cm, and produces white grains in 66 days. The male parent, `Chharodi', grows to a height of 60 cm, and slightly branching variety yields biscuit-coloured grains in 76 days. The male parent is suitable as a floor crop in tapioca, and the female parent is well adapted for summer season.

The new grain cowpea performed exceedingly well in all the field evaluation. In the eight farm trials conducted in summer 1999, along with `Kanakamani' and `Krishnamani' as check varieties, it did well and yielded an average of 988 kg per hectare, which was superior to all other entries in all locations, according to the scientists.

In the XXII meeting of the zonal research council meeting for southern region held at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, on May 17, 2000, it was recommended for release as an improved variety of grain cowpea for cultivation in the summer rice fallow conditions.

The variety has to be sown at an espacement of 25 cm between rows and 15 cm within the row. About 266666 plants will be needed to cover a hectare. The variety responds well to nutrient management and good irrigation.

A nutrient dose of 20 kg nitrogen, 30 kg phosphorus and 10 kg potash should be added per hectare, in addition to 20 tonnes of ripe farmyard manure, according to the scientists.

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