Effect of weeding frequency on the growth and yield of cowpea [<i>Vigna unguiculata (L</i>.) walp] in Mubi North Local Government Area, Adamawa State

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the students’ research and demonstration farm Department of Agricultural Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State between July and September, 2012,
to assess the effect of weeding frequency on the growth and yield of cowpea. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four treatments (zero weeding, weeding once, weeding twice and weeding three times) each replicated three times. Data collected include germination count, establishment count, vine length, number of leaves per plant, days to 50 % flowering, days to 50 % podding, hundred seeds weight and yield per plot. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance. Means were separated using the Least Significant Differences (LSD). The result showed that weeding frequency significantly affected vine length, days to 50 % flowering and yield per plot. Based on the result
obtained, plot weeded three times performed very well, having a yield of 70.79 g/plot. It may be recommend that cowpea should be weeded a minimum of three times for optimum yield.

Key words: Weeding frequency, cowpea, growth, yield.