Enhancing cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) productivity and seed quality through foliar application of organic and inorganic amendments

Abstract

Cowpea is a significant pulse crop renowned for its adaptability to unfavourable environments, including sandy soils and areas with limited rainfall. To boost the seed yield of VBN 3 cowpea, foliar sprays were given at critical crop growth stages for sustainable agricultural production, irrespective of growing conditions. Foliar fertilization of crops is the most effective way to enhance nutrient availability, thereby rectifying nutrient deficiencies. The trial was proposed to investigate the effect of biological and chemical sources of nutrients through foliar treatment on cowpea's growth, seed yield and seed quality.The crop foliage was sprayed with inorganic and organic products viz., GA3 at the rate of 100 ppm, KNO3 at the rate of 1 %, KCl at the rate of 1 %, CaCl2 at the rate of 1 %, Panchagavya at the rate of 3 % and Pulse sprout extracts (Horse gram) at the rate of 3 % along with untreated seeds(control) adopting RBD with seven treatments each replicated three times.Results revealed that the 3 % Panchagavya (3 mL of Panchagavya in 100 mL of water) foliar spray showed significantly improved growth parameters viz, plant height at the rate of 30 DAS, plant height at harvest stage, number of leaves in a plant, leaf breadth, leaf length, number of branches per plant, time taken to first flowering, duration to 50 per cent flowering and yield metrics viz., number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, pod length, seed yield/plant and 100 seed weight. The results indicated that harvested seeds from the same foliar spray treatment exhibited the higher quality characteristics than the control. The control plants showed poor crop growth and lower values for growth and yield attributes. Hence, it was concluded that the field establishment and seed productivity of cowpea may be improved through 3 % Panchagavya spray irrespective of the treatments.