Abstract:
Grain yield potential of 20 cowpea (Vigna unguicalara (L.) WaIp) germplasm collected from FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and neglected pockets of NWFP was tested at the Research Farm of NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar during summer 1997. Based on the grain yield potential, the germplasm were divided into three groups in descending order.
Germplasm SW.C.31 ranked first by producing maximum yield of 2028 kg/ha, while germplasm SW.C.8 with 1724 kg/ha ranked second. Minimum yield of 22.7 kg/ha was obtained by CH.C.302, followed by SW.C.15 with 26.7 kg/ha. The germplasm in group I viz. SW.C.31, SW.C.8 and MN.C.1 gave 95 and 98% higher yield than group II and group III, respectively. The higher yield in the germplasm of group I, was mainly due to more branches and pods per plant, pod-length and seeds per pod, heavier seeds and maximum dry matter than the germplasm of group II and III and vice versa.