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Crop Production :: Forage Crops :: Fodder Cowpea

 

Fodder Cowpea

Season and Varieties

Zone District/ Season Month Varieties
Irrigated
Erode, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai June-July CO 5, CO (FC) 8 and
CO 9

 

Particulars of Fodder Cowpea Varieties

 

PARTICULARS CO 5 CO (FC) 8 CO 9
Parentage Gamma ray mutant of CO 1 Cross derivative from CO 5 x N CO 5 × Bundel Lobia 2
Duration (Days) 60-65 55-60 50-55
Green fodder yield (t/ha) 18-20 18-22 22-23
Seed yield (kg/ha) 600 625 745
Morphological characters
Plant height (cm) 93.00 100-120 130-140
No. of branches 2 - 3 3-4 4-5
No. of leaves 12 13-15 15-17
Leaf length (cm) 12.1 10.5 12
Leaf width (cm) 8.2 8 10
Leaf stem ratio 0.83 0.95 0.95 - 1.00
Quality characters
Dry matter content (%) 14.64 15.5 16.86
Crude protein content (%) 20.00 20.7 21.56


Special features of Fodder Cowpea CO 9     

  •  High dry matter yield (3.85 t/ha)
  •  High protein content (21.56 %)
  •  Reduced fibre portions confer increased digestibility, palatability and intake
  •  Moderately resistant to yellow mosaic virus

  Fodder Cowpea CO 9

1. Season : June – July - Irrigated
September – October - Rainfed
January- February - Summer
2. Duration    
(i). For fodder purpose : 50 - 55 days
(ii). For seed purpose : 90-95 days
3. Preparatory cultivation : Plough 2 to 3 times to obtain a good tilth and form ridges and furrows of 6 m length and 60 cm apart.
4. Seed inoculation : Rhizobium treatment is beneficial.
5. Manuring : Manured for irrigated crop only
Basal: FYM : 12.5 t/ha
NPK: 25 : 40 : 20 kg/ha
6. Seed rate : 25 kg/ha
7. Spacing    
(i). For fodder purpose : 30 x 15 cm in lines
(ii). For seed purpose : 60 x 15 cm in lines
8. Inter cultivation : As and when necessary
9. Plant protection : Generally not required for fodder purpose. In case of seed production, spraying of 0.05% Methyl Dematon (Metacystox) or Dimethoate (Rogor) required to control sucking pests if any.
10. Harvest    
  For fodder purpose : At 50% flowering stage (50 - 55 days).
  For seed purpose : 90-95 days
11. Yield    
(i). Green fodder : 18-23 t/ha
(ii). Seed yield : 745 kg/ha

 

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