Effects of Planting Dates on Green Manure of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata l.), Response of Succeeding Maize in a Derived Savanna Ecological Zone of Nigeria

摘要

A study was carried out in the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, to identify a niche for growing green manure in the derived savannah of Nigeria. Two local cowpea varieties were grown on 20th and 27th of March and 3rd of April 2009; 10 th , 17 th and 24 th March, 2010 in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design. Open pollinated maize was planted as a test crop a week after incorporation of the green manure. Total biomass of cowpea was low in 2009 relative to 2010. Cowpea green manuring led to grain yield increase of succeeding maize by 92 -131 % and 43-124 % in 2009 and 2010 respectively. The erratic rains in mid March to first week in April could provide sufficient moisture for the growth of cowpea for green manure in this ecological zone and could ameliorate the effect of drought condition occasioned by climate change.