ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted at Samaru during the 1987 wet season to study the effect of seed size and number of seeds per hole on the growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) varieties. The treatments consisted of two cowpea varieties (Kanannado (local) and SVU 48), three seed sizes (large, medium and small) and four- number of seeds per hole (one, two, three and four seeds per hole). The study revealed that, large sized seeds was more vigorous in vegetative growth and had higher yield and yield components than small sized seeds. One seed planted per hole had higher number of leaves, branches, leaf area, shoot dry weight and number of pods, seeds, weight of seeds per plant and 100 seed weight than three and four seeds planted per hole, but was not significantly different from two seeds planted per hole. However, two seeds planted per hole produced higher grain yield than one and four needs planted per hole. Local Kannannado variety was more vigorous in vegetative growth than SVU 48. However, there was no significant difference in grain yield between the two varieties. Interactive effect of seed size and cowpea variety significantly influenced vegetative growth characters. SVU 48 had statistically the same number of branches irrespective of the seed size planted, whereas the number of branches oduced by local Kanannado variety was significantly different. Grain yield was significantly and positively correlated with yield components (number of flowers, pods V seeds and seed weight per plant) and vegetative growth characters (stem length and leaf area per plant), Based on these findings it can be concluded that yield benefits can be obtained from the use of large sized seeds. There is also the possibility of getting high yields from planting two sound seeds per hole that one, three and four seeds per hole and later thin to two plants per stand. It may tnerefore, not be necessary to spend extra time and resources to thin, if two cowpea seeds are sown per hole.