Influence of Phosphorus and Gibberelic Acid on Growth and Yield of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season 2022 on Cowpea crop at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P) to study the “Influence of Phosphorus and Gibberelic acid on growth and yield of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)”. The treatments consisted of three levels soil application of Phosphorus (20, 40, 60) kg/ha and foliar application of Gibberelic acid (50, 100, 150) ppm along with control.  The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with ten treatments each replicated thrice. Application of Phosphorus 60 kg/ha and Gibberelic acid 150 ppm (treatment 9) in cowpea recorded significantly highest plant height (82.77 cm), more number of nodules/plant (5.57 g), higher plant dry weight (24.90 g), maximum number of pods/plant (15.74), seeds/pod (13.98), highest test weight (20.93 g), higher seed yield (2.37 t/ha), higher stover yield (2.78 t/ha), higher harvest index (30.39%), maximum gross return (INR 63,000.00/ha), net return (INR 40,133.00/ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.76) was obtained in the same treatment 9.