@article{Weiss:256721,
      recid = {256721},
      author = {Weiss, S. and Valencia, E.},
      title = {Season Effects on Forage and POD Yield of Cowpea Grown on  Heavy Clay Soils of the Eastern Caribbean Island of St.  Croix},
      address = {2003-07-13},
      number = {1881-2017-588},
      pages = {5},
      year = {2003},
      abstract = { Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp] cvs. Iron clay,  Coolona, and Meringa performance on the heavy clay soils  with the rainfall conditions of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin  Islands is unknown. Studies were conducted in 2002 to  assess season effects (wet versus dry), seedling vigor  (plant height), forage dry matter (DM) yield, and pod yield  (PY) of three commercial cowpea cultivars (Iron clay,  Coolona, and Meringa). Field studies consisted of  randomized complete blocks with four replicates. Field  plantings were during July [dry season (DS)] and November  [wet season (WS)]. Soil types were of the mildly alkaline  Fredensborg clay (fine carbonatic, isohyperthermic, Typic  Rendolls, Mollisol) with pH above 7.5. Mean seedling vigor  differed (P<0.0001) across cultivars by season. Plant  height during the DS at 2 wk post planting averaged 12.7,  7.3, and 7.1 cm for Iron clay, Coolona, and Meringa,  respectively. This trend (P<0.02) was consistent among  cowpea cultivars up to its physiological maturity at 12 wk  post planting (46.3, 42.6, 36.5, cm for Iron clay, Coolona,  and Meringa, respectively). For the WS, seedling vigor did  not differ (P>0.05) for cowpea cultivars and averaged 46.3  ±9.4 at 12 wk post planting. Mean plant height by season  for cultivar Iron clay was highest during the dry season  and decreased during the wet season. During the DS, plant  height averaged 30, 24.3, and 22.1 cm, and during the WS  25.4, 28, and 28 cm for Iron clay, Coolona, and Meringa,  respectively (PO.Ol). Forage yield also differed (P<0.05)  for the DS, but not for the WS planting (P>0.05). Forage DM  yields in the DS averaged 2.3, 1.0, and 1.5 Mg ha"1 for  Iron clay, Coolona, and Meringa, respectively. In the WS,  mean DM yield of the three cultivars averaged 2.2 Mg ha"1.  Pod yield differed (P<0.05) among cowpea cultivars for the  DS planting. Highest pod yield was observed for Coolona  cowpea (1.5 Mg ha"1). Pod yield for WS did not differ  (P>0.05) for cowpea cultivars and averaged 0.68 Mg ha"'.  These results indicate that in the DS, Iron clay is far  superior to other cultivars for both plant vigor and yield,  but in the WS exhibit decreased production to that of  cultivars Coolona and Meringa. Yield performance during the  WS was similar for all cultivars. Opportunities exist for  the further development of cultivar Iron clay as a dry  season forage legume in special purpose feeding and  conservation systems in the U.S. Virgin Islands. },
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/256721},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.256721},
}