Detailed Explanation of Key Points of Cowpea Planting and Cultivation Techniques

Cowpea is a warm-loving variety that is not cold-tolerant. It has been cultivated in China for a very long time, and it is currently distributed over a very wide range in China. Because of its good taste and high nutritional value, it is deeply loved by consumers. Therefore, many people want to grow cowpea to achieve the goal of increasing some economic income.

Cowpea Planting and Cultivation Techniques

1. Variety selection: The widely cultivated cowpea variety is Zhijiang 28-2, which can be used for spring cultivation with plastic film mulching.

2. Sowing period: The suitable lower limit temperature for sowing cowpea is 14°C, and sowing should be done around the time of the last frost when the temperature steadily passes 4°C.

3. Reasonable close planting: For early spring cowpea, because the temperature is low and there is more rain, seedling raising and transplanting are advocated. After the seedlings emerge, they should be transplanted when the first pair of true leaves has not yet unfolded. Transplanting should follow the principle of planting small seedlings and planting early. When planting, plant two plants per hole. Summer and autumn cowpea are mostly directly sown, with 3 to 4 seeds per hole at the least and 4 to 5 seeds at the most. After emergence, thin to two plants per hole. The sowing density is 0.8 to 1 m between rows and 0.26 to 0.33 m between plants.

The Growing Environment of Cowpea

1. Temperature. Cowpea tolerates high temperatures and does not tolerate frost. The suitable temperature for germination is 25 to 35°C, and the suitable temperature for growth and development is 20 to 25°C. Above 35°C or below 15°C, growth and pod setting are affected. When the temperature approaches 0°C, the plants will suffer frost damage.

2. Light. Cowpea is not sensitive to day length, and only a few varieties have strict requirements for day length and are suitable for growing in short-day seasons. Generally speaking, short days can accelerate growth and development and promote earlier maturity. Cowpea likes sunlight. During flowering and pod setting, if light is insufficient, it will cause flower and pod drop.

3. Water. Cowpea is a vegetable with medium water consumption and has relatively strong drought resistance. Too much soil moisture can easily lead to reduced germination rate, root rot and dead seedlings, and flower and pod drop, and is also unfavorable to rhizobia activity. Insufficient soil moisture will inhibit growth and development and affect yield.

4. Soil. For planting cowpea, well-drained, loose and fertile soil is the most ideal. The most suitable soil pH is 6.2 to 7. Cowpea requires complete fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Because the rhizobia of cowpea are far inferior to those of other leguminous plants, nitrogen fertilizer should be appropriately increased. At the same time, applying an appropriate amount of phosphate fertilizer can promote rhizobia activity and increase yield.

Fertilizer and Water Techniques for Cowpea

1. Reasonable watering. The root system of leguminous vegetables is very sensitive to water. They like to grow in relatively moist soil, but are especially averse to waterlogging, especially during the flowering period. Standing water in the field will reduce pollen and affect pollination, resulting in fewer pods. Long-term soil waterlogging can easily cause flower and pod drop. When watering, water lightly and do not flood irrigate. Strictly control the amount of watering at the seedling stage. After thoroughly watering the base water and the seedling recovery water, do not water or water less. At this time, high soil moisture content will affect flowering and pod setting. After the first inflorescence sets, increase watering to promote pod growth. After entering the full pod stage, reduce watering to prevent flower and pod drop.

2. Apply root-promoting fertilizers. To improve root activity, in low-temperature seasons, fertilizers that promote rooting, such as alginic acid, chitin, and humic acid fertilizers, should be mainly used to promote the growth of fine roots. Reduce the application of compound fertilizers as much as possible, and fully water-soluble fertilizers can be used instead of compound fertilizers.

Methods for Preventing and Controlling Diseases, Insects and Pests of Cowpea

Cowpea mainly has diseases and pests such as sooty mold, rust, aphids, and cowpea pod borer. For sooty mold, 50% thiophanate-methyl or 50% carbendazim can be used for control in the early stage of the disease. For rust, 50% triadimefon wettable powder can be sprayed at 1000 times dilution, once every about 7 days, 2 to 3 times. For aphids, 10% fenpropathrin-malathion emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times dilution, or 10% imidacloprid at 2000 times dilution can be used for control. For cowpea pod borer, 50% phoxim at 1000 times dilution, or 21% fenvalerate at 4000 times dilution can be used, once every 7 to 10 days, with the solution evenly sprayed on leaves and flower buds.

The first step in cowpea cultivation is to choose the variety you need, then fertilize the land before sowing, and then plant at the appropriate time. Later, field management work must also be strengthened, especially fertilizer and water work must be done well. Only by doing this series of things well will the cowpea grow well and the yield increase.