THE EFFECTS OF SEED SIZE AND NUMBER OF SEEDS PER HOLE ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) VARIETIES
THE EFFECTS OF SEED SIZE AND NUMBER OF SEEDS PER HOLE ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) VARIETIES
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1988-11
Authors
SAHABI, BALA ABUBAKAR
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
An experiment was conducted at Samaru during the 1987
wet season to study the effect of seed size and number of
seeds per hole on the growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna
unguiculata (L) Walp) varieties. The treatments consisted of
two cowpea varieties (Kanannado (local) and SVU 48),
three
seed sizes (large, medium and small) and four- number of seeds
per hole (one, two, three and four seeds per hole).
The study revealed that, large sized seeds was more
vigorous in vegetative growth and had higher yield and yield
components than small sized seeds. One seed planted per hole
had higher number of leaves, branches, leaf area, shoot dry
weight and number of pods, seeds, weight of seeds per plant
and 100 seed weight than three and four seeds planted per
hole, but was not significantly different from two seeds
planted per hole. However, two seeds planted per hole
produced higher grain yield than one and four needs planted
per hole. Local Kannannado variety was more vigorous in
vegetative growth than SVU 48. However, there was no
significant difference in grain yield between the two varieties.
Interactive effect of seed size and cowpea variety
significantly influenced vegetative growth characters.
SVU 48
had statistically the same number of branches irrespective
of the seed size planted, whereas the number of branches
oduced by local Kanannado variety was significantly
different. Grain yield was significantly and positively
correlated with yield components (number of flowers, pods
V
seeds and seed weight per plant) and vegetative growth
characters (stem length and leaf area per plant),
Based on these findings it can be concluded that
yield benefits can be obtained from the use of large sized
seeds. There is also the possibility of getting high
yields from planting two sound seeds per hole that one,
three and four seeds per hole and later thin to two
plants per stand. It may tnerefore, not be necessary to
spend extra time and resources to thin, if two cowpea
seeds are sown per hole.
Description
A thesis submitted to the post-Graduate school ,Ahmadu Bello University.In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of science in Aronomy .Department Agronomy ,faculty of Agriculture Ahmadu Bello University zaria,Nigeria.
Keywords
EFFECTS,, SEED SIZE,, NUMBER,, SEEDS,, HOLE,, GROWTH,, YIELD,, COWPEA,, (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp),, VARIETIES,