POPULATION DENSITY ON COWPEA CULTIVARS WITH DIFFERENT GROWTH HABITS IN THE MATOPIBA REGION

Authors

  • Milton José Cardoso Embrapa Meio-Norte, Plant Production Group, Plant Science, Piauí, PI
  • Francisco de Brito Melo Embrapa Meio-Norte, Natural Resources Group, Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, Piauí, PI
  • Valdenir Queiroz Ribeiro Embrapa Meio-Norte, Plant Production Group, Experimental Statistics, Piauí, PI

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252018v31n127rc

Keywords:

Plant architecture. Cultivar. Vigna unguiculata.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the productive performance of cowpea cultivars with different growth habits as a function of population density in the MATOPIBA region, Brazil. The experiments were carried out in Magalhães de Almeida, MA in the agricultural season 2014/2015. The cultivars BRS Itaim, BRS Tumucumaque, and BRS Pajeú, which present an erect, semi-erect, and semi-prostrate growth habits, respectively, were assessed. For the erect and semi-erect cultivars, a total of 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 plants m−2 were used whereas for the semi-prostrate cultivar, a total of 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, and 22 plants m−2 were used. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four replications and treatments composed of plant densities. Grain yield and number of pods per area presented a quadratic response to the increased plant density whereas a decreasing linear response was observed for the number of pods per plant. The maximum grain yield of erect, semi-erect, and semi-prostrate cultivars were 1,076 kg ha−1 (19.5 plants m−2), 1,252 kg ha−1 (18.7 plants m−2), and 755 kg ha−1 (14.5 plants m−2), respectively. The number of pods per area was the character that most correlated (P<0.01) with grain yield, regardless of the plant growth habit.

Author Biographies

  • Milton José Cardoso, Embrapa Meio-Norte, Plant Production Group, Plant Science, Piauí, PI
    Eng. Agrônomo, D.Sc., Fitotecnia
  • Francisco de Brito Melo, Embrapa Meio-Norte, Natural Resources Group, Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, Piauí, PI
    Eng. Agrônomo, D.Sc., Produção Vegetal
  • Valdenir Queiroz Ribeiro, Embrapa Meio-Norte, Plant Production Group, Experimental Statistics, Piauí, PI
    Eng. Agrônomo, M.Sc., Estatística Experimental

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Published

11-12-2017

Issue

Section

Technical Note