Effect of different planting distance on performance of two cultivars of cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata)

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted at the Multipurpose crop nursery, College of Agriculture Education, of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development Mampong-Ashanti from July to September, 2022. The study was conducted to determine the effect of different planting distance on performance of two cultivar of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). The experimental design used was 2 x 3 factorial, arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three (3) replications. The treatments were made up of 2 varieties of Cowpea (Tona and Zamzam) and 3 planting distance (60 cm x 10 cm, 60 cm x 20 cm and 60 cm x 30 cm). The results revealed that Zamzam planted on 60 cm x 30 cm interaction, emerged earliest (4.67 days), Tona planted on 60 cm x 10 cm, Zamzam planted on 60 cm x 10 cm and 60 cm x 10 cm spacing emerged at the same period (5.33 days) whilst Zamzam planted on 60 cm x 20 cm interaction emerged late (6.33 days). Tona planted on 60 cm x 20 cm and Zamzam planted on 60cm x 30 cm were earliest to flower (41.00 days) whilst Tona planted on 60 cm x 10 cm were earliest to pod (45.3 days).Tona produced wider canopy width and higher number of leaves per plant than zamzam from 6 to 8 WAP, whilst Tona planted on 60 cm x 30 cm interaction produced significantly (P≤0.05) wider canopy width than on 60 cm x 10 cm interaction. Zamzam planted on 60 cm x 10 cm produced significantly (P≤0.05) taller plants than Tona planted on 60 cm x10 cm and on 60 cm x 30 cm interaction which produced shortest plants at 4 WAP and 6 WAP respectively. Planting distance 60 cm x 10 cm produced significantly heaviest root fresh weight at 8 WAP. Tona planted on 60 cm x 30 cm interaction produced significantly greatest number of branches per plant at 8WAP. It is therefore recommended that for high yield of cowpea, farmers are to plant Tona using 60 cm inter row spacing and either 10 cm, 20 cm or 30 cm intra row spacing for maximum number of branches per plant.