Effect of irrigation schedule, dates of sowing and genotypes on yield, water use efficiency, water expense efficiency and water extraction pattern of cowpea

摘要

A field experiment was conducted during summer seasons of 1999 and 2000 at Seed Technology Farm, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar to find out the effect of irrigation schedule, dates of sowing and genotypes on yield, water use efficiency (WUE), water expense efficiency (WEE) and water extraction pattern. The cowpea crop sown on 2nd March recorded significantly higher seed and haulm yields. Application of irrigation at an IW: CPE ratio of 1.0 recorded significantly higher seed and haulm yields. The variety GC 4 performed better than that of GC 2 and Pusa Falguni. The crop consumed maximum water and also recorded higher WUE and WEE. Application of irrigation at an IW: CPE ratio of 1.0 consumed maximum water but recorded least WUE and WEE. Variety GC 4 consumed maximum water and also recorded maximum WUE and WEE. Late sowing of cowpea varieties extracted more water from upper soil layer as compared to lower soil layer. As IW: CPE ratio increased, extraction from upper layer increased. Variety Pusa Falguni extracted maximum soil moisture from upper layer.