GROWTH AND YIELD OF COWPEA BEAN IN RELATION WITH TRELLISES TYPE AND CLIMATE

Abstract

Cultivation of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) requires trellises, which increases production costs. Corn and sunflower have are alternatives as live trellises to reduce costs. The influence of type of trellis on the growth and yield of cowpea was determined. Sowing was made during the rainy season in hot (Guerrero, Mexico) and temperate (State of Mexico, Mexico) climate. The growth indices evaluated were net assimilation rate (NAR), crop growth rate (CGR) and relative growth rate (RGR). In addition, seed yield (SY), number of seeds (NS), weight of 100 seeds (W100S), number of pods (NP) and seeds by pod (SP) were recorded at harvest. Cowpea in conventional trellis (plastic mesh and wood supports) and hot climate had the highest NAR, CGR and RGR, which generated greater SY (68 g m-2), NS (329 seeds m-2) and NV (19 pods m-2), while with corn trellis and temperate climate cowpea had the lowest SY (0.3 g m-2), NS (4 seeds m-2) and NV (0.4 pods m-2), as a result of lower values in NAR, PGR and RGR. Cowpea in hot climate and conventional trellis showed higher growth rates and higher yields than in temperate climate.