Basic agricultural information of Cowpea: the vegetable meat

(Cowpea / Lobia / Barbati / Black Eyed Pea)

S.N.	(Question)	(Answer)
1	Botanical name?	Vigna unguiculata
2	Family?	Leguminoceae
3	Origin?	Africa
4	Edible part?	Pod
5	Chromosome number?	2n=22
6	Seed rate?	Pure crop: 20-25 kg/ha (grain), Fodder/Green Manure: 30-35 kg/ha
7	Spacing?	30-45 cm x 10-15 cm
8	Most probable progenitor?	Mensensii
9	Sensitive to?	Water logging
10	It is grown as?	Cash crop
11	It is tolerant to?	Drought
12	Vigna cylindrica is known as?	Catjang Bean
13	Vigna sesquipedalis is known as?	Asparagus Bean
14	Cowpea pods are rich in?	Vitamin B
15	Nutritive value?	Protein: 22–24%, Carbohydrate: 55–66%
16	This is known as?	Vegetable meat
17	Climatic requirement?	Warm weather, semi-arid; 20ºC to 30ºC
18	Major insect-pests?	Cowpea pod borer, Hairy caterpillar, Aphids, Jassids, Bean fly / Stem fly
19	Harvesting time?	Green pods: 45–90 days; Grains: 90–125 days after sowing
20	Yield?	Grain: 12–15 q/ha; Green fodder: 250–350 q/ha

Types of Cowpea Varieties

• Introduced: Philippines Early (Yard Long Bean)
• Selection:
  • Pusa Phalguni – dwarf variety
  • Arka Suman
  • Arka Garima
  • Pusa Barsati
  • Arka Samrudhi (Bush type, photo-insensitive)
• Hybrid:
  • Pusa Dofasli – (Pusa Phalguni x Philippines bush)
  • Pusa Rituraj – Bush type, dual-purpose
  • Pusa Komal – (Pusa Rituraj x P-246) – Resistant to bacterial blight

Diseases in Cowpea

S.N.	Disease	Causal Organism
1	Bacterial Blight	Bacteria
2	Cowpea Mosaic	Virus (transmitted by aphids)
3	Powdery Mildew	Fungus