Track 4-1-2: Breeding Cultivated Forage Species for Biomass, Quality and Stress Tolerance
Description
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is a leguminous crop grown throughout West Africa, often in association with pearl millet and sorghum. Cowpea is well adapted to the harsh growing conditions, including low soil fertility, high temperatures, and drought. Cowpea can fix atmospheric nitrogen to improve soil fertility and cropping system productivity. Additionally, farmers feed cowpea fodder to livestock to increase income, and collect the manure produced for use in their fields thereby reduces farmers’ reliance on commercial fertilizers and sustains soil fertility. Previous studies with cowpea indicated that this legume improves soil fertility and enhances the intake and utilization of poor quality roughage consequently improving livestock production and productivity.
Citation
Lohithaswa, H. C.; Krishnappa, M. R.; Shekara, B. G.; Chikkarugi, N. M.; and Manasa, N., "MFC-09-1: A New Forage Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) Variety for South Zone of India" (2020). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 6.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/23/4-1-2/6
Included in
MFC-09-1: A New Forage Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) Variety for South Zone of India
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is a leguminous crop grown throughout West Africa, often in association with pearl millet and sorghum. Cowpea is well adapted to the harsh growing conditions, including low soil fertility, high temperatures, and drought. Cowpea can fix atmospheric nitrogen to improve soil fertility and cropping system productivity. Additionally, farmers feed cowpea fodder to livestock to increase income, and collect the manure produced for use in their fields thereby reduces farmers’ reliance on commercial fertilizers and sustains soil fertility. Previous studies with cowpea indicated that this legume improves soil fertility and enhances the intake and utilization of poor quality roughage consequently improving livestock production and productivity.
