Phosphorus and zinc effect on seed yield and quality of vegetable cowpea

Abstract

Cowpea responds to heavier application of phosphorus in
Haryana soils since phosphorus plays an important role in
nodulation, thus, the experiment comprising of five
phosphorus levels viz., 0, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg/ha and four
levels of zinc, i.e., 0, 5, 10 and 15 kg/ha was conducted at
Research Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, CCS
H.A.U, Hisar during spring-summer of 2015. The seed yield
per plant (43.48 g), per plot (3.13 kg) and per hectare (21.74
q), germination percentage (90.53%), seed vigour index-I
(3113.25) & II (49.73), protein content (26.76), net returns
and benefit to cost ratio (2.04) were recorded maximum when
the crop was supplied with phosphorus 60 kg coupled with
zinc 10 kg/ha, however, the electrical conductivity (1.12 μScm-
1seed-1) was recorded lowest at same dose of phosphorus
and zinc due to slowest ageing process.