Key points of cowpea cultivation technology

What key points should we pay attention to when cultivating cowpea? Today I will tell you about the key points of cowpea cultivation. Let's take a good look:

1. Sow seeds at the right time

Cowpea varieties can be sown and planted when the soil is 10cm deep, the ground temperature should be stable at 10-12℃, and the air temperature should be stable between 15-32℃. In Jiangxi Province, the general sowing period for cowpea is from early March to early August and can be planted in the open field. Generally, direct seeding is the main method, and seedlings can also be raised and transplanted. In early spring, the mulch can be covered with heat preservation film.

2. Choose soil with good drainage when preparing the land and applying basal fertilizer

Generally, 25kg of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer and 1500kg of organic fertilizer are applied as base fertilizer per 667㎡, so that cowpea has sufficient nutrition in the early stage and lays a good foundation for the whole growth period. The bed type for cowpea planting: the width of the bed (including the ditch) is 120-130cm, and the ditch depth is 25-30cm to facilitate drainage. Double rows can be planted in each bed, with a spacing of about 25-28cm, and a density of 3300-3800 holes/667㎡, with 3 plants in each hole. No watering is required before germination, otherwise it will cause seed rot.

3. Field management

a. Insert a rack to guide the vines. When the plant grows to 17-33cm and is about to sprout, you should insert the rack in time. Generally, use bamboo poles to form a "human" shape, with a height of 220-250cm. Insert one pole in each hole and tilt it slightly inward. When every two poles intersect, place a bamboo pole as a horizontal beam at the upper intersection, forming a "human" shape. Guide the vines onto the rack at noon or afternoon on a sunny day.

b. Bud removal and topping When the side branches below the first inflorescence grow to 3cm long, they should be removed in time to ensure the main vine is strong. The side branches above the first inflorescence of the main vine can be pinched after leaving 2-3 leaves to promote the formation of the first inflorescence on the side branches. When the main vine grows to 15-20 nodes and reaches 230-250cm in height, cut off the top to promote the formation of flower buds on the lower side branches.

c. Fertilizer and water management After the cowpea seedlings are all grown or transplanted, try to control the water in the early stage. Water the plants when they are flowering and setting pods. Irrigate the plants in time according to the soil conditions. Keep the soil moist and pay attention to controlling the field humidity to avoid diseases. In the early stage of flowering, apply urea once at 7.5kg/667㎡, and apply compound fertilizer 2-3 times at the peak of pod setting, 7.5kg/667㎡ each time. In the middle and late stages, the fertilizer and water are sufficient, which can make the plants form more side vine inflorescences, and make the original inflorescences on the main vines continue to bloom and set pods, extending the harvest period.