ISSN 2736-1624
Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN: 2736-1624 Vol. 14 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Influence of Growth Regulators and Organic Inputs on Cowpea Productivity
F. B. Mukhtar1, M. Mohammed2 and A. H. Ajeigbe3
1Department of Biological Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
2Jigawa Research Institute, Kazaure, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
3International Institutes for Tropical Agriculture, Kano Station Nigeria.
Accepted 23 June, 2024
Abstract
The relationship between leaf senescence in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.] and yield was studied in pot grown population of a local variety, kanannado. Treatments comprising of farm yard manure (single and double application), 200 ppm benzyl amino purine (BAP), 15% coconut milk (CM) and a combination of both manure and the hormones were also applied to determine their effects on senescence and yield. The experiment was carried out at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (I.I.T.A), Kano station, Nigeria. Chlorophyll level was increased by all the treatments with greater increase in the 200ppm BAP and 15% CM treated plants. The level of chlorophyll also decreased with increase in age of the cowpea plants. Senescence commenced earlier and progressed faster in the manure treated plants while it was significantly delayed by 200ppm BAP and 15% CM. Fodder and grain yields were greater in all the treated cowpea plants compared with the control. Interactive effects were observed in the combined treatments (manure +15% coconut milk and manure +200 ppm BAP) as chlorophyll increased above that of manure and control plants. Also senescence process was delayed and yield was increased. The study suggests that leaf senescence in the photoperiod sensitive cowpea could be delayed by application of 200 ppm BAP, 15% CM and a combination of manure +15% CM and manure +200 ppm BAP and the delayed senescence resulted in increase in yield.
Key words: Farmyard manure, benzyl amino purine, coconut milk, leaf senescence, yield.