Effect of Rhizobium inoculation and various sources of nitrogen on growth and yield of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

Application of organic/inorganic sources of nitrogen @ 20 kg N ha−1 + seed inoculation with Rhizobiwn significantly increased plant height, dry matter accumulation, yield attributes viz. branches per plant, seeds per pod, pods per plant, yield per plant and ultimately seed, stover and total biomass yields per ha over control. Combined application 6f organic/inorganic sources of N + seed inoculation further induced significant increase in all these above mentioned parameters of plant over their individual application. Vermicompost x inoculation produced significantly highest whereas, urea x inoculatipn produced lowest number and dry weight of nodales per plant. Application of vermicompost @ 20 kg N ha−1 was found superior in respect of most of the growth and yield attributes than FYM.