VIABILITY AND VIGOUR OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) VARIETIES SEEDS OBTAINED FROM PLANT SOWN IN SEQUENTIAL CROPPING SYSTEM

Abstract

The poor quality of seeds used by farmers is a limiting factor contributing to low yields obtained in cowpea. This study aimed to determine the viability and vigour of cowpea seeds produced in sequential cropping system. The seeds obtained from an earlier field experiment on cowpea varieties planted in sequential cropping system were used for this study. The treatments were factorial combination of five varieties of cowpea viz: IT90K-76, IT93K-452-1, IT99K-573-1-1, TVX 3236, Oloyin and two sequence of planting. They were replicated three times. Data were collected on 100 seed weight, germination percentage and seedling vigour index. Results showed that all the varieties produced significantly heavier seeds in the second sequence than the first except IT93K-452-1 and TVX 3236 plants which produced similar seed weight in the two sequence. Cowpea seeds obtained in the second sequence of planting had significantly higher (P<0.05) germination percentage and seedling vigour index than seeds obtained in the first sequence except in TVX 3236 variety. Significant variation existed in the viability and seedling vigour of the varieties in storage. Variety IT93K-452-1 stored better and maintained significantly higher (P<0.05) germination percentage and seedling vigour than the other varieties assessed.