Evaluation of Yield and Yield Attributes of Some Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) Varieties in Northern Guinea Savanna

Five cowpea varieties were evaluated in 2009 to determine their grain yield attributes. The experiment was conducted at the Research and Teaching Farm of Department of Crop Science, Adamawa State University Mubi laid in randomized complete block design in three replicates. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, number of days to flowering, pod filling period, days to physiological maturity, pods per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pods, number of seeds per plant, 1000 seed weight and yield per hectare. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance. Most of the yield and yield determining attributes recorded significant (P = 0.05) difference due to treatment effects. These varieties flowered between 38.02 days to 50.12 days after planting and the maturity period did not exceed 71 days. Average grain yield ranged between 14,000.3kg/ha to 20, 000.20kg/ha. V2 (Brown Kananado) recorded the highest yield of 20,000.20kg/ha with V5 (Ife - Brown) giving the least yield of 14,000.30kg/ha. The need to develop varieties with different attributes and resistance to major biotic and abiotic constraints to suite the needs of different agro - ecological zones can not be over emphasized. This is because varietal requirements in terms of plant type, seed type, maturity, yield for cowpea varies from one agro - ecological region to another. (Journal of American Science 2010; 6(9):815-818). (ISSN: 1545-1003).