Sowing

Seed rate: Bushy type: 20-25 Kg/ha

Trailing type: 4-5 Kg /ha

For grain and dual purpose type:

Broadcasting : 60- 65 kg/ha (45kg for Krishnamony)

Dibbling : 50- 60 kg/ha ( 40 kg for Krishnamony)

Spacing : 25cm x 15cm dibbling two seeds per hole.

Bush : 30cm x 15cm

Trailing : 2m x 2m ( on pandal @ 3 plants/pit )

Seed Treatment:

Thiourea application on cowpea

Soaking of cowpea seeds in 500 ppm thiourea before sowing followed by two foliar sprays of thiourea (500 ppm) one at vegetative and one at flowering stage should be done to obtain higher grain yield of cowpea.

Increase the yield by 26% and net return by 50%

Thiourea 500ppm solution can be prepared by mixing 500mg thiourea in one litre of water. Thiourea seed soaking should be done for 4- 5 hrs followed by drying in shade & sowing should be done in the next morning. Seed soaking should be done in night (not in day time). Spraying should be done either during morning or evening time only.

Seed inoculation and pelleting

Cowpea seeds should be inoculated with Rhizobium and pelleted with lime. Rhizobium cultures are available from the Assistant Soil Chemist, Microbiological Laboratory, Soil Testing Centre, Pattambi 679 306, Palakkad District. The strains that are available at Pattambi are the two isolates ( No.11 and No. 12) developed by Kerala Agricultural University.

Procedure for seed inoculation

The content of each packet of Rhizobium inoculant is sufficient for seed to be sown in the area indicated on the packet (250 to 375g/ha). Use the inoculant only for the specific leguminous crop mentioned on the packet, before the expiry date. Do not expose the Rhizobium culture to direct sunlight or heat. Mix the inoculant uniformly with the seeds by using minimum quantity of water (instead of water, either 2.5% starch solution or kanjivellam of the previous day can be used in order to ensure better stickiness of the inoculant with the treated seed material). Take care to avoid any damage to the seed coat. Dry the inoculated seeds under shade over a clean paper or gunny bag and sow immediately. The Rhizobium culture or the inoculated seeds should not be mixed with chemical fertilizers.

Procedure for lime pelleting

1. Add finely powdered (300 mesh) calcium carbonate to moist fresh Rhizobium treated seeds and mix for 1-3 minutes until each seed is uniformly pelleted. Depending on the seed size the following quantity of lime will be required.

Small seeds : 1.0 kg/ 10 kg of seed
Medium sized seeds : 0.6 kg/ 10kg of seed
Large sized seeds : 0.5 kg/ 10 kg of seed

2. Spread out the pelleted seeds on a clean paper to harden. Sow them as soon as possible. However, lime pelleted seeds can be stored up to one week in a cool place prior to sowing.
   1. Lime coating is required only for seeds that are to be sown in acid soils.
   2. Ordinary agricultural lime is not good for pelleting because of its larger particle size. Good quality high grade lime should be used.
   3. Hydrated lime should not be used for pelleting.
   4. The dry pellet should be firm enough to resist moderate pressure. It should appear dry without loose lime on its surface or in the container.
   5. The lime pelleted seeds can be mixed with the fertilizer & sown. However, the period of contact between fertilizer and the pelleted seeds should be as short as possible.
   6. Pelleted seeds should not be sown into a dry seed bed.

Sowing/ spacing:

Plough the land thoroughly 2-3 times and remove weeds and stubbles. Make channels of 30 cm breadth and 15cm depth at 2m apart to drain off excess rainwater. For grain type & dual purpose type, if dibbling is adopted, spacing of 25cm between rows and 15cm between plants is recommended with 2 seeds/ hole. If broadcasting is adopted, the seeds can be sown broadcast over the field and channels drawn after sowing. For bush vegetable type, spacing of 30cm between rows & 15cm between plants is suitable. For semi trailing varieties, provide a spacing of 45 x 30 cm. trailing varieties can be sown in pits (3 plants/pit) at 2 x 2m spacing for trailing on pandal or in channels at 1.5m x 45cm spacing for trailing on trellis.