GROW COWPEA, AN IMPORTANT LEGUMINOUS VEGETABLE – PAU EXPERTS

LUDHIANA, JUNE 22:



An important summer and rainy season leguminous vegetable crop, cowpea can be successfully grown in all tropical and sub-tropical climates, highilghted PAU experts of the Department of Vegetable Crops. Educating the farmers about the agronomic practices of cowpea, the scientists told that it can be grown on all types of soils having pH 5.5-6.5 except saline or alkaline soils. However, well- drained sandy loam soil rich in organic matter is most suitable.



Dr V.K. Vashisht, mentioning about the improved variety of the crop i.e. Cowpea-263, said that it has been recommended at the national level. It is an early maturing variety suitable for both spring and rainy seasons and its pods are green, thick, fleshy, tender and medium (about 20 cm long). Adding that the variety is comparatively resistant to cowpea mosaic virus and is free from cowpea golden mosaic virus, the expert told that its average yield is 35q/acre.



Emphasising on following the recommended agronomic practices, Dr S. Mandal informed that in Punjab, cowpea is grown both, during summer and rainy seasons. For rainy season crop sowing should be done from end of June to mid-July, he said. A seed rate of 8-10 kg/acre is required for sowing said Dr Mandal and advised that sowing in lines facilitates better intercultural operations and aftercare. Line sowing can be done with a seed drill operated by tractor, bullocks or manual labour and adequate soil moisture is essential at the time of sowing. Keep a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 15 cm between rows. Though it is a leguminous crop, yet it responds well to the application of manures and fertilizers. About 10 tons of well-rotten farm yard manure per acre should be applied to the soil at the time of land preparation.



Pointing to weed control and irrigation, Dr A. Kumar asked the farmers to keep the field free from weeds for the first 45 days after sowing. Telling that one hoeing after 30 days of sowing should be done, he added that at later stages, the weeds are kept under check due to the thick canopy of the crop. Throwing light on irrigation, the scientist stressed that depending on atmospheric conditions, 2-3 protective irrigations have to be given. For higher yield, the crop should be irrigated regularly at 4-5 days interval during summer and 10-12 days interval in rainy season.



Revealing that the pods are harvested when adequately developed and remain tender, the farm varsity experts emphasised that the picking of pods 15 days after pod setting is ideal for vegetable purpose. The harvesting starts from 45-50 days in early cultivars. There are usually 3-5 picking in bush types and 6-10 in pole types. For remunerative price, it is better to remove the insect-pest and disease damaged pods before marketing. Similarly, more fibrous and over-matured pods should be sorted out.
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