Effect of different doses of phosphorus on quality of fodder cowpea [vigna unguiculata (l.) walp.]

A field study was conducted at the Instructional Farm of I. G. K. V., Raipur during kharif season of 2008 to assess the quality of different varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] under varying levels of phosphorus. Treatments consisted of six varieties viz., UPC-9202, UPC-4200, UPC-626, UPC-628, UPC-629 and Bundel lobia-1 and three levels of phosphorus viz. 40, 60 and 80 kg P₂O_s/ha. Variety UPC-626 produced significantly wider leaf: stem ratio compared with all other varieties. On the other hand, Bundel lobia-1 resulted in narrower L: S ratio among different varieties. Phosphorus at 80 kg P₂O_s/ha gave wider L: S ratio (0.78) being significantly higher than the lower dose of phosphorus application. Variety UPC-626 was found to contain maximum nitrogen (2.28%) and drew maximum amount of nitrogen (98.02 kg/ha) being significantly higher than those found in other varieties. Highest protein content of 14.25% and protein yield of 612.64 kg/ha were recorded with UPC-626. Bundel lobia-1 was found to be inferior in protein content and its yield. Maximum protein content of 13.07% and protein yield of 504.91 kg/ha were obtained when crop received highest dose of phosphorus.