Effects of Sowing Dates on Yield and Quality of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) Genotypes Grown in Greenhouse

Abstract

This study was carried out in plastic greenhouse at the Agricultural Faculty of Ondokuz Mayis University in Samsun/Turkey during the spring period in 1999. Two local cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) genotypes (G10 and G18) provided from Manisa province were used. G10 and G18 genotypes have black and mustard testa colour, respectively. Both of them are suitable for green pod production. Seeds were sown on April 1, April 15, May 1 and May 15. Green pod yield per plant, average green pod weight, number of pods per plant, pod length, width, thickness and pod flesh thickness were determined. Effects of seed sowing dates on individual pod weight were not significant, but there were significant differences between genotypes in terms of pod characteristics. Average pod weight of G10 genotype (7.2 g) was higher than G18 genotype (3.1 g). Green pod yield per plant was influenced by sowing dates and cowpea genotypes. The highest green pod yield per plant was obtained from April 1 (289.7 g/plant) and May 15 (265.3 g/plant) sowing dates. G10 genotype gave higher green pod yield per plant (271.9 g) than G18 genotype (191.8 g).