EFFECT OF COW DUNG MANURE ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF COWPEA VARIETIES GROWN ON SOIL INFESTED WITH ALECTRA VOGELII INFESTATION

Abstract

This research was carried out on the effect of cow dung manure on growth and yield of cowpea varieties and Alectra infestation on Alectra inoculated soil. Two trials of pots experiments were conducted in the screen house, Department of Soil Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Cow dung manures were applied at the rate of 15, 30 and 45kgN/ha with control (soil without Alectra inoculation). Cowpea varieties SAMPEA 7, SAMPEA 9 and SAMPEA 14 were planted in nylon bags of (20 x 18.9 cm) which served as pots for the experiment. All the pot soils (except the control) were inoculated with Alectra seeds. The treatments were laid out in completely randomize design. The cowpea plants were sampled for growth parameters at 5, 7 and 9 WAP. The parameters evaluated for vegetative growth include Plant height, Number of leaves, Number of branches, Number of root nodules, Root length, Shoot fresh weight and Root fresh weight. while yield parameters were Pods number, Pods weight, Seeds number, Seeds weight and 100 seeds weight. The result showed that, application of manures generally enhanced the vegetative growth parameters of cowpea varieties on most sampling dates, with the highest values recorded at 45kgN/ha while in most cases 15kgN/ha and control produced the lowest values in both Trials. Variety SAMPEA 7 and 14 produced the highest and lowest number of Alectra shoots respectively. In view of these findings, it was recommended that the manures should be considered as an efficient control measure for Alectra infestation on susceptible cowpea varieties.