Cowpea
- Vigna unguiculata
- annual forage
- sow in broadcast in May to early June
- 3/4 seed depth
- 2-3 tons/A yield
- problem weed: sicklepod
- herbcides needed are those common for most forage grasses but legally labled insecticides are used.
(malathion 8EC, Lorsban 4E, diazinon 4EC, and Proxol 80SP)
- family name: Poaceae
- from Ethiopia
- grows well in dry areas due to extreme drought tolerance
- suited for any soil
Cowpea is rich in protien and digestable carbohydrates; its energy
is nearly equal to that of cearel grains.
It is a perfect match for African siol and weather. its leaves are tender
and contain 25% protien as a percentage of dry wieght.
like other legumes, they fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Cowpea thrives in dry enviroments and can produce a hardy crop
with as little as 300 mm of rain fall.
it has deep roots and helps in siol stabilization as well.
For more information on Cowpea:
Article References:
-
- Tamo, Manuele "Analysis of the Cowpea agro-ecosystem in West Africa." 1999:
Handbook of Enviromental and Ecological Modeling.
- Wiley, John. 1985. Cowpea Research, Production and Utilization..
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Created by Vanessa Trim
