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Response of Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L) Varieties to Defoliation

Loss of foliage in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L] Walp) as a result of field physiological disorders and/or diseases is detrimental to the growth and development of the crop in both tropical and sub-tropical areas. Field studies on effects of defoliation in cowpea were conducted at the University for Development Studies, Tamale in Northern Ghana during the 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons. Four cowpea varieties, namely Songotra, Padituya, Binaaba and Sanzi were subjected to the following five levels of defoliation: 0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 %. The treatment combinations were replicated three times in randomised complete block design. Results indicated that the varieties differed from each other in terms of vegetative growth and yield responses to defoliation. The overall best grain yielder was Padituya whilst Binaaba was the poorest in terms of grain yield. Up to 50 % defoliation of any of the four varieties was not observed to be detrimental to growth and grain production. Keywords : Cowpea Varieties, Experimental Defoliation, Growth, Grain Yield