Physiological Quality of Cow pea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) Varieties Seeds Obtained from Plants Sown in sequential Cropping system

Abstract

Cowpea is the major staple pulse crop in sub-Saharan Africa for household nutrition but there is the need to intensify the production of the crop to meet the growing demand. This study aimed to determine the physiological quality of cowpea seeds produced in sequential cropping system. The treatments were factorial combination of seeds obtained from five varieties of cowpea (IT90K-76, IT93K-452-1, IT99K-573-1-1, TVX 3236, Oloyin) planted in two sequence within a growing season. The first planting of the varieties was done in May as soon as the rain started in the study area and they were harvested at different dates between August and September depending on the variety. The second sequence of planting was done immediately after the harvest of the first planting and harvested at different dates between November and December depending on the variety. Data were collected on 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 recorded significantly higher (P<0.05) germination percentage and seedling vigour index than seeds obtained in the first sequence except in IT93K-452-1 and TVX 3236 variety which maintained similar germination percentage in the two sequence before storage. Significant variation existed in the viability and seedling vigour of the varieties in storage. Variety IT93K-452-1 stored better, maintaining significantly higher (P<0.05) germination percentage and seedling vigour after storage than the other varieties assessed. This implies that IT90K-76, IT99K-573-1-1 and Oloyin seeds obtained from the first sequence of planting are better used as grains but IT93k-452-1 will produce high quality seeds and store significantly longer regardless of time of harvest