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Sci Tech
Bush-type cowpea with high yield
By Our Agriculture Correspondent
Integrated pest management strategy using botanical insecticides and bio-control agents will prove to be highly beneficial.
SCIENTISTS AT the Department of Pulses, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, have developed a bush-type cowpea with high yield potential.
The short-duration variety with field tolerance to major diseases, and moderate resistance to pod borer pest has been released for commercial cultivation by TNAU recently.
Released as `CO (CP)7 Cowpea', the improved variety is a mutant derived from CO 4 variety through gamma irradiation technique. Ideally suited for rainfed tracts, this variety can be raised all over the State in kharif and rabi seasons.
This early-maturing, drought-tolerant variety is suitable for sowing at times when the onset of the monsoon is delayed. It produces grains of good quality, which is comparable with the existing varieties, and has been well received by farmers.The new variety has recorded an average grain yield of 900 kg per hectare, which is much higher than the ruling varieties of CO 6, P 152 and Vamban 1.
Maturing in 65 to 70 days, the cowpea produces green, glabrous and long pods measuring between 13 cm to 15 cm each containing about 13 seeds. The brownish white seeds are square and hundred of them weigh between 12 and 13.9 g.
The plants grow to a height of 40 to 55 cm. It was tested extensively in different locations and in different seasons, and has been found to be superior to many ruling varieties in terms of yield, quality and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
The variety produces grains with high protein content (23.5 per cent). The protein content was higher than that of CO 6 with 21.9 per cent protein.
The bolder grains are better than the ruling varieties in colour, appearance, texture, flavour and taste. The cooking quality of the grains is also good.
This variety can be grown in June-July, September-October and February-March seasons.
A seed rate of 20 kg will be required to cover a hectare. A spacing of 30 cm between rows and 10 cm within the rows is recommended to get good returns from the crop.
The seeds should be treated with Trichoderma viride at a rate of 4 g per kg seeds at least 24 hours prior to sowing. Treatment with Rhizobium culture will prove to be rewarding.
The variety responds well to the application of 12.5 kg nitrogen and 25 kg per hectare in rainfed tracts. The nutrients should be applied as basal dressing. In the irrigated fields, a basal dose of 25 kg nitrogen and 50 kg phosphorus should be applied.
Liberal quantities of organic manure should be applied before the final stages of field preparation for good establishment of the crop. The field should be kept free of weeds by taking up two manual weeding on the 15th and 30th day after sowing.
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