Only available one month before planting season
There are basically three different types of cowpea seeds; forage, grain and dual-purpose cowpea types. It can be a prostrate, semi-erect or erect herbaceous annual summer legume with a well-developed taproot system. It is a multi-purpose crop, being used for human consumption as a pulse grain and vegetable, or as a forage crop being grazed or preserved. It is also often used as a cover crop / green manuring.
The minimum rainfall requirement for Cowpea production is 450 mm per annum.
Kg/ha 30-50
Plant October - January
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Grain yields: 1-3 t/ha/season
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Forage yields: 3-10 t DM/ha/season
Depending on environmental conditions and management -
Multi-purpose legume
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High forage yield
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High forage quality and palatability
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Establishes easily on wide variety of soils
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Green manure and cover crop application (improves soil fertility)
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Drought tolerant