Effect of Tillage Practice on Growth and Yield of Three Selected Cowpea Varieties

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of tillage practice on growth and yield performance of three cowpea varieties. Study Design: The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement and replicated three times. Place and Duration of Study: Study was carried out at St. Theresa demo farm and Nakamane irrigation scheme in Turkana county between November 2014 and January 2015. Methodology: Treatments comprised three tillage practices: conventional tillage (control), conventional tillage + mulch and zero tillage and three cowpea varieties: M66, K80 and Kenkunde. Data collected included: Plant height, nodule count, total leaf vegetable yield, pod length, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, grain yield,100 seed weight, total biomass and harvest index.