The effect of phospho-compost on the growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) was studied at Juaboso in the Western Region of Ghana. It was a factorial
experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Phospho-compost, prepared from phosphate rock, cocoa pod husk, sawdust and poultry manure, was applied at the rate of 560 g plot-1 (875 kg ha-1) and worked into soil before planting.
Phosphate rock was applied at the rate of 195 g plot-1 (300 kg ha-1) 1 week before planting. The triple superphosphate was applied as band placement of 90 g plot-1 (130 kg ha-1), 7 days after sowing. These application rates were equal to 60 kg P205 ha-1. Phospho-compost significantly (P < 0.05) increased number of leaves, number of nodules, plant biomass, number of pods per plant, and grain yield more than the control. Grain yield on the phospho-compost-treated plot was 25.8 per cent higher than the control. Phospho-compost treatment had a profit margin of ¢3,295,000.00 (387.65).Thisfigurecomparedfavourablywiththetreatmentusingconventionaltriplesuperphosphatefertilizer,whichrecorded¢3,422,000.00(402.59) profit. The controls had a profit margin of ¢2,515,000.00 (295.88).Theresultsofthestudyindicatethattheuseofphosphocompost(whichislocallyprepared)cansignificantlyincreasetheyieldofcowpea.Resource−poorfarmerscanusephospho−composttoimprovethefertilityofsoilforhigherproductivityofcowpea.UneeˊtudeeˊtaitentrepriseaˋJuabosodanslareˊgiondel′OuestduGhanapourfairedesrecherchesdel′effetdephosphocompostsurlacroissanceetlerendementdedolique.C′eˊtaituneexpeˊriencefactoriellearrangeˊedansundessindebloccompletchoisiauhasardavecquatrereˊplications.Phospho−compost,preˊpareˊderocheduphosphate,del′eˊcaledecossedecacao,desciuredeboisetdefumierdevolaille,eˊtaientappliqueˊsaˋraisonde560g/lot(875kg/ha)etmeˊlangeˊsaveclesolavantlaplantation.Larocheduphosphateeˊtaitappliqueˊeaˋraisonde195g/lot(300kg/ha)unesemaineavantlaplantation.Latriplesuperphosphateeˊtaitappliqueˊecommeunplacementenbandede90g/lot(130kg/ha),septjoursapreˋslessemailles.Cestauxd′applicationeˊtaienteˊquivalentaˋ60kgP2O5/ha.Phospho−compostaugmentaitconsideˊrablement(P<0.05)lenombredefeuilles,nombredenodules,biomassedeplante,nombredecosseparplanteetlerendementdegraineplusquelecontro^le.Lerendementdegrainesurlelottraiteˊdephospho−composteˊtait25.8387.65) et ce chiffre se comparait favorablement avec le traitement appliquant l'engrais conventionnel la triple
superphosphate, qui donnait un bénéfice de ¢3,422,000.00 (402.59).Leslotsdecontro^leavaientunemargebeˊneˊficiairede¢2,515,000.00(295.88). Les résultats de l'étude indiquent que l'application de phospho-compost (qui est préparé localement) peut augmenter considérablement le rendement de dolique. Les pauvres agriculteurs ingénieux peuvent appliquer phospho-compost pour améliorer la fertilité du sol pour une productivité
plus élevée de dolique. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 40 (2) 2008: pp. 169-17