134 research outputs found

    Variation in reproductive efficiency and yield of cowpea under high temperature conditions in a Sahelian environment

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    Fifteen cultivars differing in plant type and maturity were evaluated for their reproductive efficiency and yield at the ICRISAT Sahelian Center, in Niger in 1988, 1989 and 1990. Flowers and pods were used to determine the reproductive efficiency and yield differences were assessed by using crop growth rate and partitioning. Significant differences among cultivars were observed for their ability to flower and set pods under high temperature conditions. The pattern of flowering and pod set showed that flowers formed in the first 10 days after initial flowering had the highest percentage pod set. Potential pod set ranged from 5 to 81%. TN88-63, the most widely adapted cultivar in the Sahel averaged 59% pod set followed by A73-2-1 with 56%. There was considerable variation among cultivars in the duration of the reproductive period, crop growth rate and partitioning. Crop growth rate was largely responsible for differences in yield among cultivars

    Intercropping Morphologically Different Cowpeas With Pearl Millet in a Short Season Environment in the Sahel

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    The effects on yield of varying the planting date and planting pattern of morphologically different cowpea cultivars intercropped with pearl millet were studied in two field trials. The interaction between cowpea cultivars and planting date was highly significant. There was a sharp reduction in cowpea yields with late planting. Millet yields were reduced less when sown simultaneously with early cowpea cultivars than when sown with a late maturing local cultivar. Early maturing cowpea cultivars planted in closely spaced hills had less effect on millet yields than a late maturing cultivar sown in widely spaced hills. An appropriate cowpea cultivar for intercropping with peal millet would be one that was weakly competitive and that yielded both grain and fodde

    Evaluation of cowpea cultivars for intercropping with pearl millet in the Sahelian zone of West Africa

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    Field trials were conducted at ICRISAT Sahelian Centre, Niger, to examine the performance of contrasting cowpea cultivars intercropped with pearl millet. Significant effects (P ≤ 0.05) of cropping system and cultivars were observed for cowpea grain yield. Cultivar × cropping system interaction was significant only for fodder yield. Intercropping reduced cowpea yields significantly but the degree of reduction varied among cultivars. Early-maturing erect cultivars exhibited greater yield reduction than the indeterminate spreading types and had the least effect on millet yields. Indeterminate spreading cultivars produced greater grain and fodder yield than erect types and caused the greatest millet yield reduction. The relationship between the yield of cowpea cultivars and millet when intercropped was negative. Linear correlations between yield of cowpea in sole and intercrop were positive and significant (P < 0.01) with r values ranging from 0.45 to 0.91. However, a small proportion of the greatest and least-yielding cowpea cultivars in intercropping would have been selected and rejected, respectively, on the basis of sole-crop grain-yield. It was concluded that selection of cowpea cultivars for intercropping with millet based on their grain yield in sole crop may have limited success. Selection based on fodder yield favoured late-maturing cultivars. Selection of cowpea cultivars for intercropping should be based on their intercropped performance, paying special attention to other agronomic factors. An appropriate cowpea cultivar for intercropping with millet would be the one that is less competitive with millet and yields both grain and fodde

    Dissemination and end-of-project workshop on “Development of Sustainable Seed Systems in West Africa” held in Bamako, Mali

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    Funded by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), the 4-year Groundnut Seed Project (GSP) entitled “Development of sustainable groundnut seed systems in West Africa” was concluded on 30 June 2007. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), as project executing agency (PEA), organized an end-of-project final workshop from 2 to 3 July 2007 at Bamako, Mali. The objective was to present the achievements of the project to a wide range of stakeholders

    Early generation testing for yield and physiological components in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

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    Selection of superior crosses of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in early generations would increase the probability of identifying superior lines. The objective of this study was to determine the potential of selecting for physiological traits identified in a yield model [crop growth rate (C), reproductive duration (DR) and partitioning (p)] in segregating populations. Forty populations and nine parental lines were evaluated in replicated trials in 1992 (F2, 1993 (F3) and 1994 (F4) at three locations in Niger. Physiological traits were estimated from final yield and biomass as well as data on flowering and maturity. Regressions from two different parent-offspring generations (F2: F3 and F3: F4) were calculated. The results were compared to determine if early generation performance accurately predicts the performance of cross bulks in later generations. Differences were observed among populations and parents for all traits. Effects of locations were significant for C, p and DR in F2 and F3 but nonsignificant for yield and C in F4. Regression coefficients from F3: F2 were 0.10 ± 0.08 for C, 0.45 ± 0.17 for p, 0.10 ± 0.03 for DR and 0.16 ± 0.03 for pod yield. Based on F3: F4 regression, the coefficients were 0.12 ± 0.23 for C, 0.46 ± 0.17 for p and 0.57 ± 0.17 for yield. Parent-offspring correlations were in most cases similar to the regression values. It was concluded that selection for yield and model components in early generation bulks may inneffective

    Uganda Early Generation Seed Study : Unlocking Pathways for Sustainable Provision of EGS for Food Crops in Uganda

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    One of the major bottlenecks limiting farmers’ access to good quality seed for food crops in Uganda is the shortage of early generation seed (EGS - breeder and foundation) to produce sufficient quantities of certified and/or quality declared) to satisfy the needs of farmers. A national study was conducted between October 2015 to March 2016 to analyse pathways for promoting commercial and sustainable production and delivery of EGS. Five crops (hybrid maize, rice, beans, sesame and finger millet) were selected. The analysis provides real examples of potential business models that could scale in a commercially sustainable manner. For areas that are best suited to public sector investment, opportunities for public-private collaboration and increased efficiencies in the sector are outlined. Generalizable principles and recommendations to guide key stakeholders as they pursue policies, investments, and interventions are proposed

    Cowpea production training manual

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    Effects of phosphorus on yield of cowpea cultivars intercropped with pearl millet on Psammentic paleustalf in Niger

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    Phosphorus (P) is the most limiting soil nutrient in the sandy soils of Niger and farmers rarely use chemical fertilizers in producing pearl millet and cowpea. A 3-yr study was conducted in farmer's fields at two locations in South Western Niger to investigate yield response of six cowpea cultivars to applied P-fertilizer (0, 8, 16 kg ha(-1)) when intercropped with millet. Significant yield differences were found between cultivars for their seed and dry fodder yield at all rates of applied P. Cultivars responded differently to the application of P. Millet grain was more than doubled with the addition of 8 to 16 kg P ha(-1). Cowpea cultivars did not have significant differential effect on millet yields. Cowpea cultivars differed significantly in the accumulation of P in fodder with the highest yielding cultivars taking up more P than the low yielding ones. The results have important implications for breeding and selection of cowpea cultivars that are adapted to a range of fertility levels

    Rotation and nitrogen fertilizer effects on pearl millet, cowpea and groundnut yield and soil chemical properties in a sandy soil in the semi-arid tropics, West Africa

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    A 5-year study was conducted from 1988 to 1992 at three sites in Niger to determine the effects of crop rotation of a cereal and legumes and nitrogen fertilizer on chemical properties of the soil (0-20 cm) and yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea). Four N levels (0-45 kg N/ha) and rotation treatments including continuous fallow were investigated. Soil samples taken from the top 20 cm depth at the end of the experiment from treatments without nitrogen application which included continuous fallow, fallow-millet rotation, groundnut-millet rotation, cowpea-millet rotation, and continuous millet were analysed for soil pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen and exchangeable bases. Fertilizer N significantly increased yield of pearl millet, cowpea and groundnut. Continuous monocropping of pearl millet resulted in lower yields across N levels compared to legume-millet rotations. Legume yields were also consistently lower in monoculture than when rotated with millet. There was a decline in organic matter under continuous millet, cowpea-millet rotation and groundnut-millet rotation. The fallow-millet rotation supplied more mineral N than the legume-millet rotations. Nitrogen availability was greater in cowpea-millet rotation than continuous millet. Crop rotation was more productive than the continuous monoculture but did not differ in maintaining soil organic matter. The legume-millet rotation at 30 kg/ha N appears to be the most viable for millet production. Research should focus on understanding the effect of legume/cereal intercrops and rotations on soil productivity
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