Effects of Fertilizers on Harvest Time and Yield of Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) in Sierra Leone

Abstract

SUMMARY Effects of fertilizers on harvest time and yield of cowpeas were studied on upland soils in Sierra Leone. In a 25 confounded factorial trial, on soil which had been cropped successively with 2 years of Smooth Cayenne pineapples and 14 months of cassava, the treatments did not affect harvest time significantly, but N, P and NP Mg produced very favourable effects on grain yields. In a randomized complete block experiment on soil previously cropped with two successive cassava crops, there was a significant difference in total yield of dry pods between the control and most treatments.