Open AccessCharacterization of cowpea to harvest rainwater for wheat in semiarid conditions
Author(s) -
Muhammad Sajjad,
Sultan Ahmad Rizvi,
Rizwan Rafique,
Waqas Naseem,
Azra Khan,
Ghulam Muhammad,
Abid Subhani,
Marjan Aziz,
Shahid Javid
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
spanish journal of agricultural research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.337
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2171-9292
pISSN - 1695-971X
DOI - 10.5424/sjar/2021193-16645
Subject(s) - rainwater harvesting , agronomy , hectare , sowing , mulch , vigna , tillage , conventional tillage , crop , field experiment , green manure , environmental science , mathematics , agriculture , biology , ecology
Aim of study: A field experiment was executed, under rainfed conditions from 2014-15 to 2017-18, to study the role of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in rainwater harvesting to enhance the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield. Area of study: Rain-fed area of Pothwar region Punjab Pakistan. Material and methods: We designed three treatments (T1: control; T2: cowpea grown after conventional tillage and incorporated into soil to act as “green manure”; and T3: grown without any tillage practice, cut with sickle and spread as “mulch”). The effect of these treatments on soil moisture conservation was studied against conventional farmer’s practice, wherein no host crop is grown before wheat sowing. Main results: Available soil water remained highest in T2 during first three years when sufficient rainfall was received contrary to fourth year with low rainfall. The results revealed that cowpea biomass of 15.2 t/ha and 13.72 t/ha, from T3 and control respectively, were produced during 2015 corresponding to 213 mm rainfall. Whereas, these quantities increased to 25.69 t/ha and 24.29 t/ha during 2017 with 390 mm of rainfall. The study revealed that net income from wheat crop under T2 was Rs. 6000 and Rs. 17000 per hectare higher than that of control during the first two years respectively. Contrarily, net income from T2 was found negative and benefit-cost ratio reduced to 0.79 when very low rainfall was received during the last year. Research highlights: Use of cowpea as green manure gave maximum net return if sufficient rainfall is received during decomposition of cowpea and hence recommended for in-situ rainwater harvesting.