Seed performance of common bean and cowpea by priming and planting date

A 2-year farm trial by employing the nutrient priming technique on common bean (Sarıkız) and cowpea (Şimal) seeds was performed to assess seed yield and protein content. Priming: (p1) control, (p2) KH2PO4, (p3) ZnSO4 and (p4) KH2PO4+ZnSO4, planting date: (d1) 20 May, (d2) 15 June 2015, (d1) 7 May, (d2) 7 June 2016 were used to study the yield (kg ha) and crude protein (%) of the mentioned crops in Ankara, Turkey. In 2015, application of p3 and p4 (868.8, 834.8), d2 (962.3) and p4d2, p2d2 and p3d2 (1061, 1052, 1028) increased seed yield of Sarıkız, and p2 and p1 (899.5, 835.9) and d2 (955.9) increased the yield of Şimal. Treatments of p4 and p3 (18.7, 18.5), d2 (19.2), and p4d2 (21.3) increased the protein of Sarıkız and d2 (19.4) increased the protein of Şimal. In 2016, p3 (2506), d2 (2516) and p3d2 (3650) increased the yield, and p4 (26.1), d2 (26.8) and p4d2 (28.3) increased the protein of Sarıkız. Treatments of p3 (1979.1), d2 (2664.3) and p3d2 (3310.6) increased the yield, and d1 (24.1) and p3d1 (25.7) increased the protein of Şimal. Application of Zn and P by seed priming seems to effectively increase the yield and protein content of these crops.