How to grow cowpeas for a high yield? Practical growing methods shared

Little high-yield tips for growing cowpeas

Cowpeas are also called yardlong beans, and their habits and cultivation techniques are similar to those of green beans. Although cowpeas have the growth characteristic of root nodule bacteria that can fix nitrogen, they are harvested for their tender pods and tender seeds, so nitrogen supply is indispensable, especially in the early stage. Nitrogen : phosphorus : potassium = 1 : 0.6 : 1.3. The trace element molybdenum can promote vigorous development of root nodules, and legumes are also very sensitive to trace elements such as boron and zinc. Therefore, on the basis of rational application of N, P and K fertilizers, spraying boron fertilizer, molybdenum fertilizer and zinc fertilizer has a certain effect on increasing the pod-setting rate of legumes, promoting full seeds and raising the yield.

Because the root system has root nodule bacteria, it is aerobic, and this is also one of the reasons why common beans can withstand short-term soil drought but have poor tolerance to waterlogging.

Little high-yield tips for growing cowpeas

I. Land preparation and sowing

It is best to choose a field that has not previously grown legumes. Continuous cropping land must be disinfected, because continuous cropping land is very prone to root rot and wilt disease, causing cowpea vines to wither and die, and it is very difficult to control.

1. Disinfection.

① Use 60-80 kg of quicklime per mu to flood the field, and after 7-10 days drain the water and let it dry until white;

② Before planting, pour a 500-fold dilution of potassium permanganate, or a 500-fold dilution of Doujiao Junpa (or hymexazol or Junzhenqing No. 2) + Beilin (Jiajia iodine), to soak the soil to a depth of more than 3 cm.

2. Choose the ridge-making method according to the fertility level, with the ridge surface about 40 cm wide and 30 cm high. Open a small ditch 10 cm deep on the ridge surface, and pour 1000 kg of decomposed manure water per mu into the ditch. After drying until white, loosen the soil, choose a suitable variety, dry the seeds for 4 hours and then soak them in water, dress the seeds with chlorothalonil original powder at 25 g of powder per 500 g of seeds, sow in the small ditch, single-row planting, sowing two seeds every 20 cm, and after sowing cover with soil manure or burnt soil and water.

Little high-yield tips for growing cowpeas

II. Seedling stage management

Two days after sowing, water lightly according to the dry and wet condition of the ridge surface to ensure the moisture needed for emergence. After 5-6 days, when the cowpea seedlings have two leaves and one heart, drench once with an 800-fold dilution of Junduqing plus a 300-fold dilution of jinggangmycin, using 750 kg of solution per mu, to prevent and control root rot, phytophthora blight and other diseases.

Thin the seedlings in time to ensure one plant every 20 cm. When applying chemicals, take care that the granules do not touch the plants.

Fertilize appropriately according to the growth of the cowpea seedlings, using 3-5 kg of urea per mu plus an equal amount of potassium fertilizer mixed with 1000-1500 kg of water, and water lightly after application. Controlling bean thrips is the key point at the seedling stage. Bean thrips damage the young tender growing tips, which is also the common phenomenon of no tips being produced and only two leaves being seen, commonly known as "blind heart".

To control bean thrips, use a 600-fold dilution of isocarbophos plus a 600-fold dilution of Yisaoli, or a 1500-fold dilution of abamectin plus a 1500-fold dilution of imidacloprid, or a 500-fold dilution of Haoniandong plus a 1500-fold dilution of 5% fipronil, spraying once every 6 days, and spray Yunda 120 once or twice at the seedling stage.

Little high-yield tips for growing cowpeas

III. Vine-running stage management

When the cowpea seedlings send out vines, carry out heavy hilling combined with fertilization, using 30 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu plus 10 kg of urea, evenly applied on both sides of the ridge, and cover the fertilizer and weeds with soil from the ridge ditch. Take care that the fertilizer and soil do not touch the bean stems. If conditions permit, apply 2000 kg of barnyard manure per mu and hill up soil along the sides of the ridge.

After hilling, drench once with a sulfur-ammonium mixture, using 1 kg of copper sulfate and 2 kg of ammonium carbonate per mu mixed with 1000 kg of water.

Little high-yield tips for growing cowpeas

At the same time, guide the vines onto the trellis, usually using an A-frame trellis.

If the seedlings grow vigorously, a cone-shaped trellis can be used, that is, every 40 cm, insert three bamboo poles into an equilateral triangle, tie them with rope into a cone away from the ridge surface, and place horizontal bamboo on top. For ease of operation, the trellis height should be kept within 2 m. A cone-shaped trellis can increase yield by more than 10% compared with an A-frame trellis.

Control moisture. On sunny days, irrigate once every 3 days with running water, and at the same time wet the ridge surface. On rainy days, pay attention to drainage.

The main pests and diseases at the vine-running stage are rust, powdery mildew, bean thrips and bean pod borer. You can use a 800-500-fold dilution of triadimefon plus a 500-fold dilution of isocarbophos plus a 800-fold dilution of Anlübao, or a 600-fold dilution of Xiansheng plus a 600-fold dilution of Wanneng powder plus a 800-fold dilution of Yisaoli. Take care that the concentration of triadimefon goes from dilute to concentrated (800-500-fold), spray once every 7 days, and add Yunda 120 spray once every 14 days.

Little high-yield tips for growing cowpeas

IV. Harvest stage management

About 60 days after sowing, the plants enter reproductive growth, and the harvest stage appears. Fertilize once every 7 days, each time using 10 kg of compound fertilizer per mu plus 5 kg of urea, mixed with 100 kg of manure and composted for 3 days, then mixed with 1500 kg of water and applied to the ridge surface, and water lightly after application; or apply in holes along the side of the ridge, using 20 kg of compound fertilizer per mu plus 10 kg of potassium fertilizer plus 10 kg of urea, opening holes along the side of the ridge every 35 cm and applying, applying to one side of each ridge, and after 10 days applying the same amount of fertilizer to the other side.

Before hole application, water sufficiently. Within two days after application, do not water the ridge surface, and do not fertilize on rainy days. During the harvest stage, maintain 1-2 cm of water in the ridge ditch.

Little high-yield tips for growing cowpeas

For pest and disease control, the following agents can be chosen. To control spot blight and phytophthora blight: a 600-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil plus a 600-fold dilution of 70% mancozeb; for rust and powdery mildew: a 300-fold dilution of 50% colloidal sulfur, drenching 1000 kg of solution per mu, but the premise is that no disease symptoms have appeared, as prevention is better than treatment.

The main pest is the bean pod borer, and the following can be used:

① a 1000-fold dilution of Caixi plus a 1500-fold dilution of imidacloprid;

② a 1500-fold dilution of abamectin plus a 600-fold dilution of Anlübao;

Little high-yield tips for growing cowpeas

③ a 1000-fold dilution of Bacillus thuringiensis plus a 800-fold dilution of Xiaochongdi.

The above three agents should not be mixed with fungicides.

Because bean pod borer control is very difficult, the spraying interval should be once every 3-4 days, and spraying before 10 a.m. when the bean flowers are open gives a better effect.

Add Yunda 120 spray once every 7 days. It is best to harvest in the morning when the dew has not yet dried.