GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCES OF COWPEA VARIETIES (VIGNAUNGUICULATA (L.)WALP) IN SUDAN SAVANNA ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA.

Authors

Growth, Yield, Varieties, Cowpea.

Field trials were conducted at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil

Teaching and Research Farm and BurumBurum village in Tudun Wada Local Government Area,

Kano State, to study the growth and yield of some cowpea varieties in Sudan Savannah agro-

ecological zone of Nigeria. The treatment consisted of nine cowpea varieties (IT98K-131-1,

IT98D-1399, IT84S-2049, IT07K-210-1-1, IT84S-2246, IT07K-292-10, IT89KD-391, IFE

BROWN and DANILA). These were laid out in a randomized complete block design and

replicated three times. Data collected included canopy height, number of branches, canopy

diameter, grain yield per hectare and fodder yield per hectare. The data were analyzed using

ANOVA and means separated by Student Newman Keuls test (SNK) at 5% level of probability

using GenStat statistical package. The results showed that cowpea variety IT98K-131-1 had

significantly the greatest grain yield while cowpea variety IT98D-1399 produced significantly

greatest fodder yield per hectare. In conclusion, varietal differences existed among the cowpea

varieties in terms of growth and yield.