Research Article | Published October 2013

Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research, Vol. 1(4), pp. 61-68

¹Department of Crop Production, Federal University Dutse, P.M.B. 7156, Jigawa State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: banelisam@yahoo.com. Tel: +2348023308577

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The cowpea crop [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp], is a vital food crop in the semi-arid tropics where it is reported to be the second most important food legume crop in tropical Africa; grown mainly for their mature grains/seeds. It therefore features prominently in the farming systems of the region. The late planting of the dual purpose cowpea often result in poor vegetative growth with little or no grain production. As a result, it has been difficult to improve the productivity of these varieties using only cultural practices. However, it has been observed that if the cowpea crop plant is cut (clipped) before senescence, it can regenerate after defoliation (and provided there is enough soil moisture), to produce grains. This could help in improving on the food security situation in the region. In the light of the above, this study was carried out on the research field of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria; During the 2002 to 2005 wet seasons; with the objective of determining the influence of intra-row spacing, clipping height and time on the yield of the dual purpose cowpea. The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design, replicated three times. The data was analyzed statistically using the analysis of variance test (ANOVA); and the means compared using the Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Results showed that cowpea grain and pod yield were generally highest at the closest (15 cm) intra-row spacing. Though, higher grain yield was produced with the unclipped (control) plants compared to the clipped plants; the control plots produced statistically similar pod yields on plots clipped at 25.0 cm heights. Generally, higher pod and grain yields were recorded when crop plants were clipped at 64 DAP than at 74 and 84 DAP, respectively. Threshing percentage, harvest index (HI) and 100-seed weight were not influenced by the treatments Based on the results of these investigations, it can be concluded that the adoption of this innovative clipping management technology, holds great potential to increasing the yield of cowpea, for these low inputs, low technology, resource poor farmers in a sustainable manner; and thus substantially contribute in enhancing the general food security situation in the savannah region of the tropics and indeed globally.

Key words: Clipping, farmer, innovation, management, potential, regenerate, resource-poor, yield, senescence, technology.

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Citation: Sambo BE, Odion EC, Aliyu L, Labe DA (2013). Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] clipping management technology 2: A potential for sustain yield and food security in the savannah regions of Nigeria. J. Agric. Crop Res. 1(4): 61-68.