Studying the effect of planting arrangement and weed management on yield, growth characteristics and soil chemical properties of cowpea

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Department, of Plant Production and Genetics,, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

2 Dehkhoda Sugarcane Agriculture and Industry

10.22069/ejcp.2026.23948.2702

Abstract

Background and objectives: Cowpea, scientifically known as Vigna unguiculata (L.), is an annual herbaceous plant with a straight, spreading root 60-80 cm long and a creeping stem 0.5-1.5 cm in diameter, and trifoliate leaves with long petioles. Cowpea is a plant from the Leguminosae family, and 20 different species have been identified so far, which are grown for their fruits and berries, either green or dried. There are significant differences in plant growth habits among cowpea species. However, little is known about how these differences may affect weed competition. Similarly, no information is available on the effect of planting arrangement and the use of plant mulch on weed competition and final plant yield.
Materials and methods: In order to investigate the effect of planting arrangement and weed management on the yield and growth characteristics of cowpea, a study was conducted in the 1400-1401 crop year at Haft Tapeh Sugarcane Agricultural and Industrial Company located in Shush city. The present experiment was conducted as a factorial design based on randomized complete blocks with three replications. The planting pattern as the first factor included planting levels: 1- one row on each ridge with a plant spacing of 10 cm, 2- planting two rows on each ridge with a plant spacing of 20 cm, and 3- planting three rows on each ridge with a plant spacing of 30 cm. Non-chemical weed management was also considered as the second factor, which included the levels of 1- weed-infested control (no weeding), 2- two weedings at 4 and 8 weeks after emergence, 3- use of 5 tons per hectare of wheat straw mulch, 4- use of 5 tons per hectare of wheat straw mulch + one weeding 4 weeks after emergence, 5- use of 5 tons of sugarcane bagasse mulch, and 6- use of 5 tons of sugarcane bagasse + one weeding 4 weeks after emergence.
Results: The results showed that the experimental treatments had a significant effect on most of the studied traits. The results of comparing the mean morphological and functional traits of cowpea showed that among the studied cultivation patterns, the highest pod length (17.7 cm), number of seeds per pod (12.1 seeds), hundred-seed weight (23.7 g), biomass yield (4596 kg/ha) and grain yield (1736 kg/ha) were related to the two-row cultivation pattern, which had a statistically significant advantage, especially compared to the single-row cultivation pattern. Among the different integrated weed control management methods, it was also observed that the highest plant height (161.4 cm), leaf length (14.8 cm), pod length (21.1 cm), number of pods per plant (14.8), number of seeds per pod (14.7), hundred seed weight (24.9 g), biomass yield (5222 kg/ha) and seed yield (2071 kg/ha) were obtained under the sugarcane bagasse + one weeding treatment. In terms of soil electrical conductivity and pH traits, it was also observed that only the integrated weed control methods had an effect on these traits. Among the different treatments, the sugarcane bagasse mulch and sugarcane bagasse + one weeding treatment levels had the highest electrical conductivity and soil pH, and the lowest mean of these traits was related to the control treatment.
Conclusion:In general, the results of this study showed that the application of sugarcane bagasse treatment + one weeding session was able to effectively control the weed population and increase the yield and yield components of cowpea seeds by reducing weed competition with cowpea and also by releasing nutrients from plant residues.

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References

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Journal of Crop Production
Volume 18, Issue 4
December 2026
Pages 23-50

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