Genetic Gain in Yield and Agronomic Characteristics of Cowpea Cultivars Developed in the Sudan Savannas of Nigeria over the Past Three Decades

Kamara, Alpha Y.; Tefera, Hailu; Ewansiha, S.U.; Ajeigbe, H A; Okechukwu, R.U.; Boukar, Ousmane; Omoigui, Lucky O.

doi:10.2135/cropsci2010.12.0698

Cited by 15 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Since 1970, several cowpea lines have been developed and distributed to partnership institutions in Nigeria and over 60 other countries all over the world for evaluation and release (Singh et al, 2000). Kamara et al (2011) showed genetic gain of 3.6% in grain yield of cowpea varieties developed from . Yield increases were largely associated with increased harvest index, dry matter and fodder yield.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agronomic evaluation of cowpea cultivars developed for the West African Savannas

Kamara

Ewansiha

Ajeigbe

et al. 2017

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The goal of this research was to evaluate diverse cowpea genotypes developed over the past 4 decades in the Nigerian Sudan Savannas for their agronomic performance and to identify groups of cultivars with similar quantitative characters. Characterization would facilitate the efficient synthesis of breeding populations for further improvement of cowpea. Also superior genotypes with desirable characteristics could be identified and disseminated in the dry savannas of West Africa. Significant variations were observed in the agronomic characteristics of the cultivars in this study. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were performed on these genotypes and found that there were significant correlations among the variables measured. Modern cultivars outperformed the older ones and from the results of PCA, it was found that the most important variables for the classification of cowpea cultivars are high canopy, high seed weight, high total dry matter, high HI, and high grain and fodder yield. This suggests that these traits could be used in selection index for genetic improvement of cowpea. Cluster analysis resulted in 5 groups mostly corresponding to era of release except cluster I which contained cowpea cultivars from all eras. Two distinct groups in clusters IV and V were identified. Cultivars in cluster IV which were released in the 1990-2000 eras, had high grain and fodder yield. These cultivars could be evaluated on-farm for eventual release to farmers. They could also be used in breeding program for improvements in grain and fodder yield of cowpea. Cluster V contained two cultivars that distinctly had the highest fodder yield suggesting that they could be used to improve fodder yield of cowpea.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agronomic evaluation of cowpea cultivars developed for the West African Savannas

Kamara

Ewansiha

Ajeigbe

et al. 2017

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“…This may be due to the fact that cultivars studied involved different legumes under maize of contrasting maturities with yearly variation in rainfall and temperature. Yearly variations in rainfall and temperature have been reported to provide varying environments that affect legumes (Kamara et al, 2011a). The lablab cultivars produced more pods and higher fodder yield than cowpea cultivars in all cropping systems but this did not translate to higher grain yield.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Thus, for a given area, cowpea is likely to produce higher grain yield than lablab. The harvest index of both lablab and cowpea cultivars were low, a seeming characteristic of dual-purpose herbaceous legumes (Kamara et al, 2011a). These findings show that in crop-livestock systems, dual-purpose cowpea will furnish more grains for humans while dual-purpose lablab will provide more fodder for animals (Ewansiha et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Yield and yield components of intercropped dual-purpose lablab and cowpea with maize of contrasting maturities

Ewansiha¹,

Chiezey²,

Law-Ogbomo³

2018

Bayero J. Pure App. Sci.

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Intercropping is a way to intensify agricultural land use. Cowpea is an important crop in the traditional farming systems in northern Nigeria because it serves to provide food and feed. Although lablab has potential to function in these ways, it remains an underutilized crop because among other factors, there is dearth of information on its incorporation into the system by way of intercropping it with the major cereal crops. A field trial was conducted at Samaru (11º 11'N, 07º 38'E, 686 m asl) in northern Guinea savannah of Nigeria, to evaluate the relative yield and yield components of dual-purpose lablab and cowpea cultivars when gown sole and when intercropped with maize of contrasting maturities. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with four replications. The experiment consisted of early maize maturing cultivar (TZE COMP. 5 W) and a late maize maturing cultivar (TZL COMP. 1 SYN). Cropping system (intercropping and sole cropping) was assigned to the main plot and crop cultivar (lablab: ILRI 4612, NAPRI 2 and cowpea: IT89KD-288, IT99K-241-2) was assigned to subplots. Results showed that intercropping cowpea or lablab into early maturing maize cultivar was more productive than intercropping into late maturing maize cultivar for number of pods ( -1 ), meaning that both legumes have potential in providing food and feed with lablab producing more fodder and cowpea more grain. Land equivalent ratio showed that intercropping advantage was higher when lablab and cowpea were intercropped with early maturing maize cultivar (1.34, 1.24) than with late maturing maize cultivar (1.10, 1.15). It is recommended that for higher lablab or cowpea/maize productivity in an intercrop, farmers should intercrop dual-purpose cultivars of these crops with maize of earlier maturities.

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“…Based on this, four varieties were early maturing, 68 medium maturing and three late maturing. According to Kamara et al (2011), most early maturing, medium maturing and late maturing cowpea varieties have determinate, semi-determinate and indeterminate growth habits, respectively. While determinate cowpea varieties are grain-type cowpea, dualpurpose cowpea is either semi-determinate or indeterminate.…”

Section: Agronomic Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Cowpea for a changing environment in the rainforest of South-South Nigeria

Ewansiha¹,

Osaigbovo²

2017

Agro-Sci.

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The introduction and use of appropriate cowpea varieties in south-south Nigeria may contribute to increased food security, especially in the context of the changing climate and desert encroachment in the country. In the context of evaluating diverse cowpea varieties for the changing environment, the present study involved the evaluation of 94 varieties of cowpea in 2013 and 2014 at Benin City in the rainforest of south-south Nigeria to identify varieties with the potential to contribute to grain or forage production and those with the potential for dual-purpose/multiple use. Grain yields of 0.5-2.0 t ha -1 and biomass (fodder) of 0.9-4.4 t ha -1 were obtained. Thirty-seven varieties that may contribute to grain production, 20 varieties that may contribute to biomass production and 13 varieties with potential for both grain and biomass production were identified. The observed potential to contribute to grain production, feed for livestock and crop residues for soil nitrogen improvement suggests cowpea may be a desirable option for use in mitigating the effect of climate change in the context of shift in crops and animals that can be produced in an environment that is changing.

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Genetic Gain in Yield and Agronomic Characteristics of Cowpea Cultivars Developed in the Sudan Savannas of Nigeria over the Past Three Decades

Cited by 15 publications

References 16 publications

Agronomic evaluation of cowpea cultivars developed for the West African Savannas

Agronomic evaluation of cowpea cultivars developed for the West African Savannas

Yield and yield components of intercropped dual-purpose lablab and cowpea with maize of contrasting maturities

Cowpea for a changing environment in the rainforest of South-South Nigeria

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