Comparison of some morphological and agronomic traits of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) genotypes

This research was conducted in the village of Taşköprü, Babaeski district, Kırklareli province, Turkey, with the objective of assessing the morphological and agronomic traits of forage cowpea genotypes obtained from the USDA and collected from the local region. The study involved two consecutive years: the first year (2021) focused on seed multiplication, while the second year (2022) involved a randomized complete block design with three replications. The planting method in the first year included manual sowing in rows measuring 4.2 m in length, with a spacing of 120 cm between rows and 66 cm between plants. In the second year, the experiment was conducted under irrigated conditions, with each plot consisting of 8 rows, 5 m in length, and a spacing of 25 cm between rows. A total of 400 plants were sown in each plot. The investigated traits of the forage cowpea genotypes included plant height (cm), number of branches (pcs), main stem diameter (mm), fresh forage yield (kg), dry forage yield (kg), some quality parameters (crude protein ratio, NDF, ADF, Ca, Mg, P, K). Among the genotypes studied, the highest plant height of 100.30 cm was observed in the İ.H.K. genotype. The İ.H.B. genotype exhibited the highest number of branches with 6.3 branches, while the genotype 40 had the greatest main stem diameter of 8.87 mm. The highest green forage yield of 4845.00 kg/ha was obtained from genotype 40, while the highest dry forage yield of 1038.00 kg/ha was recorded in genotype 1. Based on the research findings, genotypes 40 and 1 can be considered promising genetic breeding materials for the production of silage and forage due to their superior performance in terms of yield and other agronomic traits. These genotypes have the potential to contribute positively to forage production systems in the region.