A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Instructional Farm, C. P. College of Agriculture, to study the “Foliar nutrition as influence on growth and yield of kharif cowpea” during kharif season of 2020 with eight treatment combinations in RBD with four replications. Cowpea variety Gujarat cowpea 5 was sown at a distance of 45 cm × 10 cm. Elucidating the specific effects of foliar nutrient applications on growth and yield, the study provides valuable insights for optimizing farming practices and enhancing crop productivity. Various growth parameters of cowpea like plant height, number of branches/plant, dry matter accumulation and yield attributing characters viz., number of pods/plant, pod length, number of seeds/pod and seed yield (1422 kg/ha), stover yield (2553 kg/ha), net realization of Rs.71,373/ha and benefit: cost Ratio 3.15 of cowpea recorded significantly maximum with the application of 75% of RDF + 2% spray of each urea and urea phosphate at 15 and 30 DAS as compared to other treatments except application of 75% of RDF + 2% spray of NPK 19:19:19 at 15 and 30 DAS. Significantly lower value of said growth and yield attributes are recorded with control.

Foliar spray, Cowpea, Growth attributes, Yield and Economics

Based on the results obtained from the present investigation, it is concluded that kharif cowpea crop should be fertilized with 75% of RDF (15:30 kg N: P2O5/ha) and 2% spray of either urea and urea phosphate or NPK 19:19:19 at 15 and 30 DAS to obtain higher growth, yield and monetary returns in loamy sand. The findings could guide farmers in adopting more efficient and sustainable nutrient management strategies, ultimately contributing to food security and agricultural sustainability in Kharif cowpea cultivation.

B. J. Chaudhary, P. P. Chaudhari, R. M. Parikh, N. M. Chaudhary and D. M. Patel (2023). Foliar Nutrition as Influence on Growth and Yield of Kharif Cowpea. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(11): 376-380.