Abstract:
Nutrient depletion in soils adversely affects soil quality and reduces crop yield, especially
cowpea, a plant very sensitive to insufficient fertilizers but plays an important role in the
livelihood of people. A factorial experiment was conducted in randomized complete block
design with three replications at imbo region. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of
different rates of NPK fertilizers (T1 (0-0-0); T2 (12-30-30); T3 (18-48-30); T4 (23.5-60-30)) on
growth parameters and yield attributes of four cowpea varieties (V1: local variety; V2: katumani;
V3: Rw-CP-2; V4: Vuli). The outcomes highlighted T4 as the most effective treatment in
improving the tested growth parameters of all varieties. It has played a major role by effectively
increasing the plant growth, leaf area index and flowers number. Moreover, this treatment could
improve grains number and weight, as well as the plants yield. Although yield attributes for
variety vuli V4 were more enhanced by treatment T3, there was no significant difference
comparatively to treatment T4, whence the study suggest treatment T4 (23.5 – 60 – 30) as the
most effective treatment in improving the growth parameters and yield attributes of these four
cowpea varieties, but further studies are recommended for more conclusions |
