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Field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of swine manure application on the growth components and chemical composition of nine varieties of improved dual-purpose cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp). The experiment was laid out as a 2 x 9 factorial design with two levels of manure application (0kg ha-1 and 5kg ha-1) and nine varieties of improved dual-purpose cowpea at three replicates. Agronomy parameters and dry matter yield of the cowpea were determined six weeks after sowing. Results showed that unfertilized variety IT- 332 recorded highest leaf proportion (57.27) above others. Varieties IT-193 with manure (80.00 cm) and IT-297 without manure (30) recorded significantly higher (P<0.05) values for plant height and leaf number respectively. Dry matter yield of cowpea ranged significantly higher (P<0.05) from 7.20 t ha-1 in variety IT-817 without manure to 14.85 t ha-1 in variety IT-321 with manure. The average crude protein content of improved cowpea varieties ranged significantly (P < 0.05) from 97.69 g kg-1 dry matter in unfertilized IT-817 and IT-834 to 141.17 g kg-1 dry matter in fertilized IT-819. The study showed that application of swine manure into cowpea increased the dry matter yield and chemical composition which is necessary to provide sufficient feed for ruminants that can be used as a supplement during the dry season.

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The effects of swine manure application and row spacing on dry matter yields of Cenchrus americanus (pearl millet) at 6 weeks after sowing and chemical composition, fermentative characteristics and in vitro gas production of silage produced from the forage were studied. The design was a 2 × 2 factorial with 2 row spacings (0.5 and1.0 m) and 2 levels of manure application [no manure (Control) and swine manure at 5 t/ha (22% DM; 0.34% N on DM basis)] replicated 3 times. Swine manure application had no effect (P>0.05) on dry matter yield but a row spacing of0.5 m produced higher (P<0.05) dry matter yields than 1.0 m spacing (mean 7.05 vs. 5.57 t DM/ha). Fresh forage from manured treatments had significantly higher crude protein concentration (114.9–124.2 g/kg DM) than from unfertilized plots (86.2–95.1 g/kg DM). After being ensiled for 42 days, CP% in the forage had declined by 16–18% but relative differences remained. Quality measurements indicated that silages from the various treatments were all of acceptable standard although CP% of silage from Control plots was barely high enough to provide a maintenance diet. This study suggests that, under the experimental conditions, planting of pearl millet at a spacing of0.5 m rather than 1.0 m would increase DM yields obtained in the first 6 weeks of growth, while application of swine manure would not affect yields but would increase CP% of forage produced. The laboratory study indicates that the forage produced could be ensiled successfully although there was significant loss of crude protein during the process. Since there were no significant increases in DM yields of forage, other benefits, e.g. increase in N concentration, improved soil organic matter, etc., would need to be considered in justifying the additional cost of drying and applying the manure.

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