Effect of phosphorus and zinc on plant growth and yield of vegetable cowpea

Abstract

The experiment comprising of five phosphorus levels viz., 0, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg/ha; and four zinc levels, i.e., 0, 5, 10 and 15 kg/ha was conducted at Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, CCS HAU, Hisar to observe effects on plant height, number of branches per plant, days to 50% flowering, number of pods per plant, pod length, pod girth, pod weight, seeds per pod, seed yield per plant, seed yield per plot and seed yield per hectare. Plant height and number of branches per plant increased with the increase in fertilizer dose. The tallest plant at 45, 60 and at final harvest (39.10, 57.50 and 69.54 cm, respectively) and maximum number of branches per plant (5.73) were recorded when the crop was sown with the application of phosphorus 60 kg/ha and zinc 10 kg/ha. Flowering was delayed significantly with the increase in phosphorus and zinc levels. The maximum number of days to 50% flowering was taken by the crop under phosphorus 60 kg/ha and zinc 10 kg/ha. The number of pods per plant (14.23), number of seeds per pod (13.36), pod weight (18.02), seed yield per plant (43.48), per plot (3.13kg) and per hectare (21.74q/ha) were recorded maximum when the crop was supplied with phosphorus 60 kg/ha and zinc 10 kg/ha.