Influence of Cowpea Lines As Green Manure on Growth and Yield of Carrots in Root-Knot Nematode Infested Soil

An experiment was conducted at the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong-Ashanti campus to determine the effect of some cowpea lines as green manure on the growth and yield of carrot in root-knot nematode infested soil. Randomized complete block design with five treatments and four replications was used. The treatments were cowpea lines IT97K-570-18; IT97K-566-18; and IT00K-1150 as green manure, N.P.K (15, 15, 15) and control. The results showed negative correlation between root-knot nematode infestation and growth and yield parameters of carrot. The various cowpea green manure treatments and NPK (15, 15, 15) fertilizer significantly (p<0.05) improved the vegetative growth of carrot plants. Carrots from plots incorporated with cowpea line IT97K-570-18 produced significantly higher root yield than the control. Root-knot nematode infestation on carrot was lowest from plots incorporated with line IT97K-570-18. For all the parameters studied, carrot plants produced from plots incorporated with line IT97K-570-18 green manure gave the best results with respect to growth and yield. It also reduced the severity of galling. The results suggest that line IT97K-570-18 can be a better alternative to NPK (15, 15, 15) for increased carrot yield and root-knot nematode control on the Bediese Soil Series of Ghana. Key Words: Cowpea, Green manure, Carrot, Root Knot Nematodes and UEW