Evaluation of Different Varieties of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata.) in Sudan Savanna of Borno State

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm Faculty of Agriculture opposite CADZ University of Maiduguri (11⁰53N; 13⁰16E) during the raining season of 2010 to evaluate different varieties of cowpea in Sudan Savanna of Borno State, Nigeria. The Trail consisted of six (6) treatments, viz; Borno State Agricultural Development Program (BOSADP) Maiduguri. The treatments were each replicated three times and laid out in a Randomized complete Block design (RCBD). The plot size 4 x 3m given a gross plot size of 12m². Data were collected on growth and yield parameters. The result showed that the improved varieties produced significantly higher number of branches/plot, number of plant/plot, early days to 50% germination, earlier days to 50% flowering, higher pod yield/plot (g), more number of seed/pod, greater seed yield kg/ha per plot an matured earlier than their local counterparts. However, the local variety produced significantly heavier grain, took more days to reach first and 50% flowering and matured later than the improved varieties in the field trial. The result of the study reveals that cowpea grain/ha was highly and positively correlated with pod yield/plot, seed yield kg/ha per plot, number of plants/plot, number of branches/plant and number of seed/plot. It is recommended that IT 90K-82-2 which gave highest grain yield of 694.4kg/h followed by IT89KD-391. However IT97K-499-35 for earliness especially in drought prone areas.