Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.

Sci (2018) 7(1): 1148-1155

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 01 (2018)
Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.701.139

Effect of Land Configuration and Fertilizer Management

Practices on Growth, Yield and Yield Attributes and Economics of Summer
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) under South Gujarat Condition

J.R. Joshi1*, V.M. Patel1, H.L. Barad1, S.M. Macwan1 and Javid Ehsas1

1
Pulses and Castor Research station, N.A.U., Navsari, Gujarat, India
2
Department of Agronomy, N.M. College of Agriculture, N.A.U., Navsari,

*Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

A field experiment was carried out during summer 2015 at the Pulses and Castor Research
Keywords station, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari to evaluate land configuration and
fertilizer management practices on growth and yield parameters, yield, quality and
Cowpea, Economics,
Fertilizer
economics of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) cultivation. Experimental plot was clayey
management, Growth, soil having a pH 7.95 and poor in available nitrogen (210 kg/ha), medium in available
Land configuration, phosphorus (35.15 kg/ha) and considerably rich in available potash (340.50 kg/ha). To
Quality content, Vigna study three methods of land configuration viz., (flat bed, ridge and furrow and raised bed)
unguiculata L., Yield
and yield attributes
and five fertilizer management practices (FYM 4 t/ha, bio-compost 2 t/ha, FYM 2 t/ha +
50% RDF, bio-compost 1t/ha + 50% RDF and 100% RDF) were evaluated in split plot
Article Info design with three replications. The raised bed method of planting was recorded
significantly higher growth and yield attributes, seed yield (921 kg ha -1), stover yield (1992
Accepted: kg ha-1), net returns ((₹ 36,692 ha-1) and BCR ratio (3.12) than flatbed method of sowing.
10 December 2017
Available Online:
Application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer gave significantly higher valve for all
10 January 2018 growth and yield attributes, seed yield, stover yield, net returns and BCR ration than other
treatments.

Introduction kharif and warm season pulse crop. It is more

cosmopolite and grown in most of the regions
Pulses are considered as an important part of of India which showed very encouraging
food crop occupying a unique position in results and promises to meet pulse production.
agriculture and also an important component It is grown for its long green pods as
of food grain crops because of their high vegetables, seeds and pulses, as green manure,
nutritive value. Pulses have inherent capacity as well as green fodder. In India, it is
to fix atmospheric nitrogen and adaptability to cultivated in 654 lakh ha with an annual
a wide range of agro-ecological cropping production of 599 lakh tonnes leading to
systems and management ability. Cowpea average productivity of 916 kg ha-1
(Vigna unguiculata L.) is a multipurpose (Anonymous, 2015).

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Cultivation of cowpea in summer season is Materials and Methods

increasing in Gujarat, especially in South
Gujarat where perennial water supply from The experiment was conducted at farm of
Ukai- Kakrapara project is available to meet Pulses and Castor Research Station, Navsari
the demand of irrigation. But, pulses crop are Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) to
very sensitive to water logging and salt injury. study the response of summer cowpea (Vigna
Poor quality irrigation water is the important unguiculata L.) to land configuration and
factors for low productivity of summer season fertilizer management practices under south
crop in south Gujarat. The land configuration Gujarat condition during summer season of
can play an important role for easy and the year 2015.The experimental plot was
uniform germination as well as growth and geographically located at 20º 57’ N latitude
development of plants. It is particular useful in and 72º 54’ E longitude at an altitude of 10
areas having poor quality of irrigation water meters above the mean sea level. Navsari is
because it helps to avoid direct contact of coming under south Gujarat heavy rainfall
young plants with saline irrigation water. zone. The climate of this region is
Raised bed method of sowing has been found characterized by fairly hot summer,
helpful to minimize the effect of temporary moderately cold winter and humid and warm
water logging and salt injury of plants monsoon with heavy rainfall. The soil of
(Dhimmar, 2003; Akbar et al., 2007). experimental plot was clayey in texture with
7.95 pH, low in available nitrogen (210
Fertilizers play vital role in maintaining/ kg/ha), medium in available phosphorus
improving soil fertility status as the readily (35.15 kg/ha), fairly rich in available
available nutrient to plants. Inadequate or potassium (340.50 kg/ha) as well as slightly
excess supply of any plant nutrient limit may alkaline in reaction. There were fifteen
the crop production. Among the plant treatment combinations consisting of three
nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus are the methods of land configuration viz., (flat bed,
most important and expensive nutrient and it ridge & furrow and raised bed) and five
has marked effect on the plant growth in fertilizer management practices (FYM 4 t/ha,
pulses crops. Cowpea being a leguminous bio-compost 2 t/ha, FYM 2 t/ha + 50% RDF,
crop, utilize atmospheric nitrogen through bio-compost 1t/ha + 50% RDF and 100%
symbiotic nitrogen fixation to meet a major RDF). These were evaluated in split plot
parts of its nitrogen requirement. The design, where method of land configuration
formation of root nodule and nitrogen fixation sowing were allocated to main plots, while
starts at about 15-20 days after sowing. Thus, fertilizer management practices were assigned
a starter does of nitrogen may be required for to sub-plots and replicated thrice. The raised
boosting the initial growth stage. Phosphorus beds were prepared by using tractor drawn
has been found to be limited factor in legume raised bed maker and ridge and furrow were
production. It promotes the flowering and aids prepared by manually. Gujarat cowpea 4 (GC
in setting of pods. It plays a vital role in 4) variety was sown on 24th February, 2015 at
nodulation and improves the protein content in a row spacing of 45 X 10 cm (Normal) and 30
legume crops. The present study was X 30 X 45 X 10 cm (pair row on raised bed)
therefore, undertaken to evaluate the effect of using seed rate of 25 kg/ha and fertilized with
land configuration and fertilizer management 20-40-00 N-P2O5-K2O/ha. The experimental
practices on productivity profitability of plot was manured as per treatments with
summer season cowpea under south Gujarat organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer before
condition. sowing of crop. The require quantity of FYM

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and biocompost as well as chemical fertilizer higher plant height, dry matter accumulation
in the form of urea and DAP (Diammonium and number of nodules per plant at 60 day
phosphate) manually applied in opened after sowing and harvest stage but, it was
furrows as per treatment before sowing. Gap statistically Sam bar with application of 50%
filling and thinning were done when necessary RDF + FYM 2 t/ha over other treatments.
and harvesting was done when crop was fully
matured. Improvement in growth attributes due to
application of inorganic fertilizer enhanced the
Results and Discussion availability of nutrients especially nitrogen
which is mainly responsible for vegetative
Growth attributes growth and phosphorus played important role
in root development and increased nodule
Cowpea plants exhibited significant response activity in plant. These results confirm the
to various land configurations and fertilizer findings of Abayomi et al., (2008), Choudhary
management practices on growth attributes. and Yadav (2011) and Khandelwal et al.,
The periodical observation viz., plant height, (2013).
dry matter accumulation and number of
nodules per plant (Table 1) at 60 DAS and Yield attributes and yield
harvest stage showed significant difference
due to land configuration methods except at Land configuration methods did not influence
number of branches per plant and day to 50% significantly for number of seeds per pod and
flowering. 100 seed weight (Table 2). While number of
pods per plant and yield was influenced
The maximum values for plant height (43.09, significantly.
45.37 cm), dry matter accumulation per plant
(25.17, 36.33 g) and number of nodules per Number of pods per plant was significantly
plant (53.57, 47.60) at 60 DAS and at harvest higher under raised bed method of sowing as
were recorded under raised bed method of compared to flatbed method of sowing. The
sowing than flatbed method of sowing. This better performance of cowpea crop observed
might be due to maintain of proper air in term of plant height, dry matter
moisture regimes under raised bed method of accumulation per plant and number of root
sowing which improved supply of required nodules per plant obtained under raised bed
moisture, available nutrients, soil aeration and method of sowing which ultimately reflected
better soil environment ultimately resulted in in higher number of pods per plant of summer
better growth and development of crop. cowpea.

Sowing on raised bed was particularly helpful Further, higher number of pods per plant
as experimental soil content was highly clay under raised bed method of sowing resulted in
(66.40%) is susceptible to waterlogging significantly higher seed yield (921 kg ha-1).
problem for over irrigation. The findings are The increased in seed yield under raised bed
in complete agreement with earlier work done was 21.02 % over flatbed methods of sowing.
by Shete et al., (2010), Jat et al., (2012) and Similar trend was also observed for stover
Shinde (2012). yield (1992 kg ha-1) of cowpea because of
higher dry matter accumulation per plant
Application of 100% recommended dose of under raised bed method of sowing.
fertilizers (RDF) resulted in significantly

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Table.1 Effect of land configuration and fertilizer management practices on growth and growth attributes of
summer cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) under south Gujarat condition

Treatments Plant height (cm) Number of nodules Dry matter Number of branches Days to
per plant accumulation per per plant 50%
plant (g) flowering

60 DAS At 60 DAS At 60 DAS At 60 DAS At harvest

harvest harvest harvest

(A) Land configuration

L1: Flat bed 37.90 39.28 45.50 39.71 22.39 30.27 3.61 4.05 44.47
L2: Ridge and furrow 41.02 43.13 50.51 45.54 24.60 34.55 3.80 4.24 44.60
L3: Raised bed 43.09 45.37 53.57 47.60 25.17 36.33 3.82 4.32 45.13
S. Em. ± 1.12 1.22 1.70 1.17 0.55 0.98 0.07 0.10 0.71
C. D. (P=0.05) 4.42 4.79 6.67 4.61 2.17 3.86 NS NS NS
C. V. % 10.71 11.09 13.20 10.27 8.89 11.30 7.37 9.62 6.18
(B) Fertilizer management
F1: FYM (4 t ha-1) 39.69 41.23 46.44 41.52 22.76 32.23 3.69 4.16 44.22
F2: BC (2 t ha-1) 36.72 38.57 44.22 40.10 21.79 29.81 3.61 4.04 43.56
F3: 50 % RDF + FYM (2 t ha-1) 41.96 43.70 53.58 47.55 25.51 35.19 3.80 4.24 45.00
F4: 50 % RDF + BC (1 t ha-1) 40.61 42.59 49.71 43.44 24.11 33.66 3.73 4.20 44.44
F5: 100 % RDF 44.38 46.88 55.36 48.82 26.09 37.68 3.89 4.38 46.44
S. Em. ± 1.22 1.36 1.85 1.40 0.65 0.97 0.08 0.12 0.70
C. D. (P=0.05) 3.57 3.96 5.40 4.08 1.90 2.83 NS NS NS
C. V. % 9.01 9.54 11.13 9.48 8.12 8.63 6.26 8.63 4.73

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Table.2 Effect of land configuration and fertilizer management practices on yield, yield attributes and quality of summer cowpea
(Vigna unguiculata L.) under south Gujarat condition

Treatments Number of Number of 100 seeds Seed yield Stover yield Harvest Protein Protein yield
pods per plant seeds per pod weight (g) (kg ha-1) (kg ha-1) index (%) content (%) (kg ha-1)
(A) Land configuration
L1: Flat bed 9.24 10.11 10.60 761 1704 30.80 19.60 149.67
L2: Ridge and furrow 10.35 10.33 11.05 853 1871 31.24 20.08 171.42
L3: Raised bed 11.04 10.49 11.18 921 1992 31.51 20.29 187.14
S. Em. ± 0.24 0.14 0.20 24.7 43.3 0.32 0.32 7.21
C. D. (P=0.05) 0.93 NS NS 97 170 NS NS 28.30
C. V. % 9.02 5.13 7.18 11.31 9.05 4.01 6.14 16.48
(B) Fertilizer management
F1: FYM (4 t ha-1) 9.60 9.96 10.82 791 1779 30.74 19.80 157.07
F2: BC (2 t ha-1) 9.24 9.57 10.57 759 1713 30.62 19.69 149.79
F3: 50 % RDF + FYM (2 t ha-1) 10.60 10.60 11.06 882 1925 31.38 20.19 178.60
F4: 50 % RDF + BC (1 t ha-1) 10.33 10.39 10.95 846 1854 31.29 20.03 169.09
F5: 100 % RDF 11.27 11.04 11.32 948 2007 31.88 20.23 192.49
S. Em. ± 0.28 0.17 0.25 29.5 43.6 0.36 0.34 7.41
C. D. (P=0.05) 0.81 0.48 NS 86 127 NS NS 21.64
C. V. % 8.19 4.82 6.89 10.49 7.05 3.48 5.12 13.13

Table.3 Effect of land configuration and fertilizer management practices on economics of summer cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)
under south Gujarat condition

Treatments Seed yield Stover yield Gross realization Cost of cultivation (₹ ha-1) Cost of cultivation BCR
(kg ha-1) (kg ha-1) (₹ ha-1) Fixed cost Variable cost Total cost (₹ ha-1)
(₹ ha-1) (₹ ha-1) (₹ ha-1)
(A) Land configuration
L1: Flat bed 761 1704 44866 15526 0 15526 29340 2.89
L2: Ridge and furrow 853 1871 50134 15526 1200 16726 33408 3.00
L3: Raised bed 921 1992 54018 15526 1800 17326 36692 3.12
(B) Fertilizer management
F1: FYM (4 t ha-1) 791 1779 46666 15526 12000 27526 19140 1.70
F2: BC (2 t ha-1) 759 1713 44802 15526 11000 26526 18276 1.69
F3: 50 % RDF + FYM (2 t ha-1) 882 1925 51800 15526 7073 22599 29201 2.29
F4: 50 % RDF + BC (1 t ha-1) 846 1854 49716 15526 6573 22099 25617 2.25
F5: 100 % RDF 948 2007 55428 15526 2147 17673 37755 3.14

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This might due to the cumulative effect Verma et al., (2014).In case of harvest index
exerted from improvement in soil (Table 2), there is no significant difference in
environment, aeration, root development, land configurations and fertilizer management
optimum moisture-air equilibrium throughout practices.
the crop growth period besides easily supply
of available nutrients to the crop resulted in Quality control
better growth and development ultimately
reflected in higher seed and stover yields. The Different land configuration methods and
results are in accordance with finding of fertilizer management practices did not exert
Pramanik et al., (2009), Shete et al., (2010), any significant effect on protein content
Jat et al., (2012) and Shinde (2012). (Table 2) whereas, it had significant effect on
Application of 100% RDF significantly protein yield (Table 2). Significantly higher
improved yield attributes and yield over other protein yield (187.14kg ha-1) was noted under
treatments. Significantly higher values for raised bed method of sowing as compared to
number of pods per plant, number of seeds flatbed method of sowing. This increase in
per pod were recorded under treatment protein yield was mainly due to higher seed
receiving 100 % RDF than other treatments. yield under raised bed method of sowing. The
The higher value of yield attributes with result was confirmed by Jat et al., (2012) and
application of100% RDF were largely Shinde (2012). The results (Table 2) revealed
attributed to better growth of plant in term of that various fertilizer management practices
plant height, dry matter accumulation per had significant effect on protein yield. The
plant and number of root nodules per plant higher protein yield (192.49 kg ha-1) was
which resulted in higher production of noted with treatment 100 % RDF than other
photosynthates were utilized by the plant for treatments. The higher protein yield with
development of sink under adequate supply of these treatments might be due to higher seed
nutrients through recommended dose of yield. Similar findings were also reported by
fertilizers gave higher number of pods per Dekhane et al., (2011) and Verma et al.,
plant and number of seeds per pod. The (2014).
present findings are in agreement with those
reported by Abayomi et al., (2008) and Das et Economics
al., (2011). Similarly, seed yield and stover
yield were also recorded significantly higher Economics is the major consideration for the
with application of 100% RDF than other farmers while taking a decision regarding the
treatments. Application of 100% RDF gave adoption of new technology. Raised bed
24.90% and 17.16% higher seed and stover method of sowing recorded higher net returns
yield than application of biocompost 2 t/ha, (₹ 36,692 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (3.12)
respectively. The higher yield under these over flatbed method of sowing (Table 3). This
treatments might be due to cumulative effect was due to higher yield of seed and stover
of better yield attributes (number of pods per under raised bed method of sowing. These
plant and number of seeds per pod) and results are conformity with those reported by
higher nutrient uptake by cowpea. The Pramanik et al., (2009) and Jat et al., (2012).
positive response in terms of seed and stover Application of 100% RDF recorded higher
yield of cowpea to inorganic fertilizer have net returns (₹ 37755 ha-1) and benefit cost
also reported by Channabasappa et al., ratio (3.14) as compared to other treatments.
(2004), Patel et al., (2010), Choudhary and The higher net returns and BCR under these
Yadav (2011), Choudhary et al., (2013), and treatments was mainly due to higher yields

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and low cost of cultivation. Similar results as influenced by fertility levels and
were also reported by Choudhary et al., mulching. Annals of Agricultural
(2013), Khandelwal et al., (2013) and Verma Research New Series, 34(1): 61-64.
et al., (2014). Das, B., Wagh, A. P., Dod, V. N., Nagre, P.
K. and Bawkar, S. O. 2011. Effect of
It can be concluded that summer cowpea var. integrated nutrient management on
GC 4 should be sown on raised bed method cowpea. The Asian journal of
(90 cm width X 45 cm wide and 30 cm deep Horiculture, 6(2): 402-405.
furrow) and fertilized with 100% Dekhane, S. S., Khafi, H. R., Raj, A. D. and
recommended dose of fertilizer (20:40:00 kg Parmar, R. M. 2011.Effect of
N:P2O5:K2O ha-1) under South Gujarat biofertilizers and fertility levels on
condition for obtaining higher yield and yield, protein content and nutrient
monetary returns. uptake of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata
L.). Legume Research 34(1): 51-54.
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How to cite this article:

Joshi, J.R., V.M. Patel, H.L. Barad, S.M. Macwan and Javid Ehsas. 2018. Effect of Land
Configuration and Fertilizer Management Practices on Growth, Yield and Yield Attributes and
Economics of Summer Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) under South Gujarat Condition.
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 7(01): 1148-1155. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.701.139

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