Cowpea, also known as black eyed pea, is grown for its tender pods and dry seeds. It is high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Cowpea is adapted to a wide range of climates and soil types, and thrives between 21-35°C. Popular varieties include Pusa Phalguni, Pusa Barasati, and Pusa Sukomal. Cowpea is grown as an intercrop and for its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. Proper spacing, weed control, and irrigation are important for optimal yields.

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2. Botanical name: Vigna unguiculata or Vigna sinensis
Common name: China pea, Black eyed pea, Kathir pea, Southern
bean
Family: Fabaceae
Chromosome number: 2n =22
Origin: Africa
Ancestor: Vigna unguiculata var. mensensii
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3. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
 Cowpea is grown both for its tender pods and also for its dry
seeds used as pulse for culinary purposes.
 The pods are rich in protein, vitamin and minerals.
 It is also used as a fodder and green manure crop.
 On dry weight basis the cowpea grains contain 23.4 % protein,
1.8 % fat and 60.3 % carbohydrates.
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4. Soil and climate
It can be grown in almost all types of soils with pH 5.5 to 6.5.
It is a warm season crop and thrives best between 21-350C.
It cannot withstand heavy rainfall and waterlogging.
It is a drought hardy come up well under rain fed condition.
Season
Generally two crops are grown starting from January-February and May-
June.
But in places having mild climate, where summer and winter are moderate, it
can be grown round the year.
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5. Cropping system
It fits well in sequential and intercropping systems. It be grown as a catch crop after the
first crop of paddy or after the late winter crop.
It fits well as an intercrop with widely spaced vegetables and it is grown as a cover crop
in basins in fruit orchards.
Land preparation
The soil should be ploughed, clods are broken and weeds are removed and brought to
fine tilth.
Seed rate
5-20 kg/ha. Seeds are inoculated with Rhizobium species. It helps in the fixation of
atmospheric nitrogen.
Spacing
The seeds are dibbled in rows 30-45 cm and plant to plant distance of 10-15cm.
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6. Nutrient requirement
Although cowpea is a legume crop, it responds well to the application of
fertilizers.
About 25 tons of FYM is applied at the time of final preparation of land.
Application of 25 kg N, 75 kg P2O5 and 60kg K2O/ha is recommended.
Half o the N along with entire dose of P and K should be applied at the
time of sowing Remaining half of N should be applied at the time of earthing
up after 3rd week of sowing.
Spraying micronutrients shall improve the quality besides increasing yield.
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7. Irrigation
Cowpea is a hardy crop comes up well under rainfed conditions.
Flowering and pod development periods are the critical stages.
Depending on the atmospheric conditions 2 or 3 protective irrigations may
have to be given.
For higher yields the crop should be irrigated regularly at 5-7 days interval.
Hardening during pre flowering for avoiding excess vegetative growth and
will induce early flowering
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8. Weed control
Effective control of weeds in the first 20-25 days of the crop season is
essential.
Atleast 2 weedings or hoeing required to check the weeds.
Pre sowing application of Fluchloralin @ 2l/ha is recommended.
Growth substances
Spraying of maleic hydrazide at 50-200 ppm just before flowering
increase the yield of pod.
NAA 15 ppm spray induces fruit set.
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9. Plant protection
Insects: Pod borers, aphids. Agromyzid fly
and plant hoppers.
Diseases: Powdery mildew, pytophthora
and rust, leaf spot, anthracnose, cowpea
mosaic virus.
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Pod borers
Powdery mildew Rust

10. Harvesting and yield
Tender pods are harvested for marketing.
Harvesting should be done at short interval before the pods become fibrous
and unfit for marketing.
Marketable pods are available continue up to 100 days in flushes. It
produces about 50-80q/ha green pods.
Yard long beans varieties gives 15-18t/ha.
Marketing
After pod harvest, they should be kept in shade and all diseased and
damaged ones should be removed.
Washing can also be done if they are covered with dust.
In the morning these can be sent to market after filling in baskets.
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11. Storage
Under room temperature pods can be stored for 2-3 days. At 00C and 85-90
% RH. Pods can be stored for 15-20 days.
Seed production
 It is a self pollinated crop and requires 50 and 250 meters.
Isolation Distance for Foundation seed and certified seed respectively.
The crop should be inspected thrice during the crop period.
First, before flowering second at the time of flowering and finally at the time
of pod ripening.
Dried pods are plucked from time to time, these are dried and seeds taken
out by beating with stick or on large scale by tractor
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12. Description of popular varieties/hybrids:
Pusa Phalguni: IARI, dwarf, bushy, mature in 60 days. Suitable for
February-March sowing, yields 5-10t/ha.
Pusa Barasati: IARI, suitable for kharif season, comes to harvest in 45 days
after sowing, yield about 9-9.5t/ha.
Pusa Sukomal: Plants semi dwarf , erect; pods light green, round, meaty,
less fibrous, around 30 cm long and 1 cm thick. Maturity in 42-45 days
during kharif and 55-60 days during summer. Highly resistant to golden
yellow mosaic virus and leaf spot disease and yield about yield 6.2-6.6 t/ha .
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13. Pusa Dofasli: IARI, it is cross between pusa phalguni X Philipine selection.
Photo insensitive, suitable for both summer and rainy seasons, yield about
7.5-8t/ha.
Pusa komal: It is selected through pure line selection. Photo insensitive,
indeterminate, bushy cultivars. Pods are light green, 25-30cm long. It flowers
in 40-45 days. Resistant to bacterial blight and produces 10t/ha green pods.
Pusa rituraj: The variety can be grown in summer as well as kharif due to it’s
highly photo thermo insensitive nature. Pods are 22-24cm long, thin and
palatable. Dual purpose variety. Seeds brown. Average yield is 8-9t/ha green
pods.
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14. Arka Garima: Plants tall, photo-insensitive. Pods light
green, long, thick, round, fleshy and stringless. Suitable
for vegetable purpose and yield about 18 t/ha in 70-75
days.
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Arka Suman: Plants erect, bushy and photo-insensitive.
Pods medium long, tender, fleshy, crisp, without parchment
with good cooking qualities . Pod Yield: 18 t/ha in 70-75
days.
Arka Samrudhi: Plants erect, bushy and photo-insensitive.
Pods green, medium thick, medium long round, tender, fleshy
without parchment with good cooking qualities . Pod Yield: 19
t/ha in 70-75 days.
Arka Mangala: Plants tall (3-4 m), pods are very long (80
cm), light green, stringless, round, tender with crisp
texture and matures in 60 days . Suitable for kharif and
rabi. Pod yield: 25 t/ha in 100 days.

15. Other varieties are
Narendra Lobia-1
Co-2, Vamban-2, VS-389
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Kashi Unnati Kashi Kanchan

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MCQ’S
1. Origin of Cowpea
a. Africa b. Meditaranian region c. South mexico d. Afghanistan
2. Seed rate (kg/ha) for cowpea
a. 15-20 b. 20-30 c. 30-40 d. 65
3. ……… is the variety of cowpea
a. Pusa Komal b. Both c & d c. Kashi Komal d. Arka Komal
4. Chromosome number of cowpea
a. 26 b. 22 c. 28 d. 18
5. Ancestor of cowpea
a. Vigna unguiculata var. radiata b. Vigna unguiculata var. mensensii
c. Vigna unguiculata var. ungiculata d. Vigna unguiculata var. tuberosa
Descriptive questions
1. Mention few varieties of cowpea.
2. Discuss in brief about seed production of cowpea.
3. Discuss in brief about the package of practice of cowpea.
4. Mention the scientific name, chromosome number, ancestor and origin of cowpea