Effectiveness of Ethnopharmacological Weed Extract on Seed Yield and Quality of Vigna unguiculata L.

Abstract

Over the last couple of years, the production of cow pea has declined dramatically due to lack of quality seeds, poor germination, uneven plant stands, insect pest problems, and improper storage techniques. To ensure sustainable good crop growth and productivity, it is imperative to develop a judicious and comprehensive package of crop-specific seed management technologies, involving seed germination, vigour enhancing treatments, and seed protection treatments. A new approach to improve seed performance is to value-add plant-based extracts i.e., ethnopharmacological weed extracts at low doses, which are natural and multi-compound products. A study was carried out to explore the impact of ethnopharmacological weed extract on growth, yield and seed quality parameters of cowpea. Cowpea seeds primed with various ethnopharmacological weed extracts (Alternanthera sessilis, Cassia tora, Croton bonplondianum, Euphorbia hirta and Xanthium strumarium) with different concentrations for 8 hours. Ethnopharmacological weed extract of Alternanthera sessilis at the concentration of 0.5 % for 8 hours found superior in promoting higher plant height (28.27 cm), number of branches (15.53), pod length (19.84 cm) that resulted in higher seed yield per hectare (13.89 q) compared to control ( 23.73 cm, 10.80, 14.09 cm and 10.28 q) and higher seed quality attributes viz., seed germination (97.35%), seedling vigour index Ⅰ( 3532) and Ⅱ (6409), TDH activity (2.05), seed protein content (269.10 μg/g) and lesser electrical conductivity (218.78 μS/cm/g) and total soluble sugar content (68.24 μg/ml) compare to control (90.50 %, 2856 and 5533, 1.59 and 207.70 μg/g and 264.23 μS/cm/g and 108.14 μg/ml). The observations indicated that seeds treated Alternnathera sessilis @ 0.5% could be employed to enhance seed yield and quality of cowpea.