Diversified cowpea cropping design in the Sudan Savannah of Ghana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/s94azk14Keywords:
legume, cropping technology, sustainable cropping, spacing, smallholder farmersAbstract
Introduction. Climate change and low-intensity cropping technologies limit cowpea yield in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: To implement and optimize high-intensity climate-smart cropping for cowpea. Materials and methods: Cowpea was planted four seeds per hill, spaced at 75 × 20 cm in a randomized complete block design with four replicates, and later thinned to the required stand at the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Manga. Ghana, in 2021 and 2022. Four planting designs were used: A single row of two plants per hill at the center of the ridge (66 667 plants/ha); a single row of one plant per hill at the center of the ridge (33 333 plants/ha); a double row of two plants per hill at the sides of the ridge (133 333 plants/ha); and a double row of one plant per hill at the sides of the ridge (66 667 plants/ha). Days to 50 % and 90 % flowering, pod load and pod length, seed number and 100-seed weight, and grain and biomass yields were recorded. Results. Planting designs and plant densities had no effect on days to flowering. A single row of two plants per hill or double row of one plant per hill increased pod load. A single row of two plants per hill or a single row of one plant per hill improved seed per pod. Planting single row of two plants per hill and double row of two plants per hill optimized grain and biomass yields. Conclusions: Different planting designs and plant densities can enhance pod load, improve seeds per pod, and optimize grain and biomass yields of cowpea.
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