Abstract

Effect of Defoliation on the Growth and Yield of Some Cowpea Varieties (Vigna Unguiculata L. Walp)

Author(s): A. I. Darma* and M. Hayat**

Cowpea which is value mainly depends on high Protein contain and resistance to droughts, its production worldwide faces a lot of challenges among which is defoliation caused mainly by farm animal and some insects. The present study is aimed at studying the effect of defoliation on the growth and yield of some cowpea varieties. The research was conducted in IITA research station located at Latitude 120 , 031 N and Longitude 080 321E, from May to November 2009. Two varieties of cowpea were used and arranged in randomize block design (RBD) with three replications. The treatment imposed are 0%, 50%defoliation at vegetative stage, 50% defoliation at flowering stage, 75% at vegetative stage, and 75% at flowering stage. The data taken during the study were plant height, date of first flowering (DFF), date of 50% flowering (DTF), date of harvest, pod number (PN), pod weight (PW), seed number (SN), and seed weight (SW). The result revealed that defoliation at 75% vegetative growth stage cause considerable reduction in yield components, while 50% vegetative reproductive growth stage revealed insignificant reduction in yield of cowpea which in conclusion, the experiment revealed that 75% defoliation at vegetative stage significantly reduce the yield of cowpea.

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