Effects of some physical and chemical characteristics of soil on productivity and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in coastal region (Cameroon)

Studies were conducted to assess the response of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) to some physical and chemical characteristics of soil in coastal region (Cameroon). The cowpea variety used in this trial was Tsacre, planted at a spacing of 80 cm × 80 cm. The experimental design was a randomized complete block comprising of five plots with three replicates. Productivity parameters (dry weight aerial parts, roots dry weight, abortion seeds rate, number of flowering per plant, flowering rate) and yield components (number of seeds per pod, number of pod per plant, grain yield, pod yield and weight of 1000 seeds) were determined. Soil samples were taken randomly from depths of 0 - 30 and 30 - 60 cm before seeds sowing. The results showed that the plot with the highest percentage of sand (71.80%), the lowest percentage of clay (21.00%) and silt (7.20%) and with the highest amount of organic matter (10.26%), exchange potassium (0.36 g Kg-1), calcium (0.49 g Kg-1) and magnesium (0.46 g Kg-1) increased significantly (