Growth and Yield Response of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) to Integrated Use of Planting Pattern and Herbicide Mixtures in Wollo, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

To assess the integrated effect of planting pattern and low dose herbicide mixtures on weeds and growth, yield attributes and yields of cowpea, and to determine the economic feasibility of different weed management practices in cowpea, a field experiment was conducted at Sirinka Agricultural Research Center experimental sites at Jari and Sirinka in Northern Ethiopia during the 2014 main cropping season. There were 16 treatments comprising the combinations of two planting patterns (60 cm × 10 cm, 45 cm × 15 cm) and eight weed management practices (s-metolachlor 2.0 kg ha -1 , s-metolachlor at 1.0 kg ha -1 +hand weeding and hoeing 35 weeks after crop emergence (WAE), pendimethalin at 1.0 kg ha -1 +hand weeding and hoeing 5 WAE, s-metolachlor at 1.0 kg ha -1 +pendimethalin at 1.0 kg ha -1 , s-metolachlor at 1.0 kg ha -1 +pendimethalin at 0.75 kg ha -1 , s-metolachlor at 0.75 kg ha -1 +pendimethalin at 1.0 kg ha -1 , hand weeding and hoeing 3 WAE and weedy check. The treatments were laid out in factorial combination in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The highest number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and hundred seed weight were obtained from the combination of s-metolachlor at 1.0 kg ha -1 +hand weeding 5 WAE along with 60 cm × 10 cm at Sirinka. Higher (3092 kg ha -1 ) grain yield was recorded at Sirinka than at Jari (2714 kg ha -1 ). The highest (53460 ETB ha -1 ) gross benefit was obtained from s-metolachlor at 1.0 kg ha -1 +hand weeding and hoeing 5 WAE, followed by pendimethalin at 1.0 kg ha -1 +hand weeding and hoeing 5 WAE (46737 ETB ha -1 ). Therefore, managing the weeds with the application of 1.0 kg ha -1 of s-metolachlor+hand weeding and hoeing 5 WAE along with 60 cm × 10 cm proved to be the most feasible practice. Alternate herbicides for the control of X. strumarium infested fields in the study area needs to be explored.

Evaluation of Grain Yield of Two Varieties of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Subjected to Four Agricultural Practices in Gùrué District, Mozambique

“…The results obtained in this study, are in agreement with the results verified by [12] while studying the growth and yield response of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.)…”

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“…The rainfall pattern is bimodal, with two-rainfall seasons, 'belg' (February/March -April) and 'Meher' (July-September) with a mean annual rainfall of 950mm. The mean daily temperature range is of 16-21 °C [11]. The soil type of the experimental fields is clay loam, with a pH of 6.98.…”