Phosphorus application in fodder cowpea- A review

The experiment was conducted at Instructional farm of IGKV, Raipur during kharif season of 2008 to study the phosphorus application on different varieties of fodder cowpea (Vignaunguiculata (L.) Walp.). An experiment was laid down using factorial randomized design involving 18 treatments as six varieties of cowpea (viz. UPC-9202, UPC-4200, UPC-626, UPC- 628, UPC-629 and Bundel lobia-1and three levels of phosphorus (viz. 40, 60 and 80 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹). Each treatment was replicated thrice resulting into a 54 plots. Results revealed that Application of phosphorus @ 80 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ was found to improved vegetative growth of cowpea, consequently the yield of green (288.39 q ha⁻¹)and dry fodder (27.00 q ha⁻¹) quality of the produce was increased significantly as compared to lower level of phosphorus fertilization. However, seed yield of cowpea was enhanced only up to 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ followed by reduction in seed yield at 80 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ Interaction of variety and levels of phosphorus enabled the crop to increase seed and fodder yields significantly. Variety UPC-626 when fertilized with 80 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ recorded maximum green (322 q ha⁻¹) and dry fodder yields (50 q ha⁻¹) as compared to other varieties.