Effect of Dates of Sowing and Spacings on Growth and Yield of Summer Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] Patel Neha V.*, Patel B. M., Patel P. M. Department of Agronomy, C. P. College of Agriculture, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, 385506 *email: nehapatel1781991@gmail.com
Online published on 15 December, 2016. Abstract A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Instructional Farm, C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat to study the effect of dates of sowing and spacings on growth and yield of summer cowpea variety Gujarat Cowpea 5 during summer season of 2014 on loamy sand soil. The experiment comprising of 12 treatment combinations with fourdates of sowing (15th February, 24th February, 4th Marchand 12thMarch) and three row spacings (30, 45 and 60 cm) was laid out in split plot design with four replications. Significantly the higher plant population ha−1 was recorded under 30 cm row spacing during initial stage and at harvest, while in case of no. of branches per plant, no. of pods per plant and seed indexsignificantly recorded higher in row spacing of 60 cm (S3) however, it remained statistically at par with 45 cm spacing (S2). Significantly higher seed and stover yield were recorded by 45 cm spacing (S2). The data revealed that 4th March sowing (D3) produced significantly higher yield attributes and it remained statistically at par with 12th March sowing (D4). In interaction only Seed yield recorded significantly higher with 45 cm rowspacing and4th March date of sowing and also recorded higher net returns and BCR with 45 cm row spacing and 4th March date of sowing. Top Keywords Summer cowpea, date of sowing and row spacing. Top |