Common name- Cowpea/ Lobia
Botanic name- Vigna Sinensis
Family- Leguminosae
Introduction:
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Cowpea is a Kharif season crop.
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It is a Pod type of fruit.
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Its place of origin is Africa. The production of cowpea is also highest in Africa.
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We use cowpea not only in the form of food but also in form of fodder (Chara).
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Uttar Pradesh is leading state in production of cowpea in India.
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Cowpea is a self pollinating crop.
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Its pods are eaten as vegetable.
Nutrition:
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Cowpea is important for its protein rich grain (23%).
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It contains 60.3% of carbohydrate.
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Fat is also found in 1.8 %.
Climate:
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Cowpea is a warm weather crop and this is the reason that it can survive in drought conditions also.
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Optimum temperature for germination is 12 to 15°C.
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Cowpea flourishes easily between the temperature of 25-35°C.
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On other hand Cowpea cannot survive in the cold climate.
Season:
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Month for planting summer season crop is February and March.
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Month for planting rainy season crop is June and July.
Soil:
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Cowpea requires sandy loamy soil with good water drainage capacity.
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PH between 4.5-8.0 is needed for the cultivation of cowpea.
Fertilizers and Manure:
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Quantity of FYM - 10-15t/ha
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Quantity of Nitrogen - 20kg/ha
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Quantity of phosphorus - 40-50kg/ha
Seed Rates:
Purpose of cultivating cowpea can be different and according to that there are different rates of seeds:
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To use it as grain, the price of seeds are 15-20kg/ha.
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If we are using it as fodder crop then the price would be 35-40kg/ha.
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To use it as green pod, then the price would be 20-25kg/ha.
Plant Spacing:
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Space required in summer season is 30×10cm.
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Space required for rainy season is 45×10cm.
Variety:
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CO1: Duration of this variety is 135 days. It is suitable for rainfed condition. This is long duration type of crop.
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CO2: Duration of this variety is 90 days. It comes under vegetable type of crop.
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Paiyur 1: Duration of this variety is 90 days. It is suitable for rainfed tracts.
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Vamban 2: Duration of this variety is 75 to 85 days. It is vegetable type of crop and suitable for all season.
Irrigation:
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Cowpea requires around 3 to 4 irrigations.
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Soil and climate are major factors but generally 300-400mm water is required for the cultivation of cowpea.
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On other hand, in season of summer more irrigation (4-5 irrigations) is required because of high temperature and low humidity.
Harvesting:
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Harvesting time of cowpea as vegetable is 45 to 90 days after sowing.
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On the other hand harvesting time of cowpea as grain is 90 to 125 days after sowing.
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Before storage, threshed crop must be dried in the heat of sun.
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Normally cutting of the crop should be done in 40 to 45 days after sowing the seeds.
