Effect of defoliation at vegetative stage on dry mass production and yield in cowpea

Different degrees of defoliation (0%, 33%, 66%, and 100%) treatments were employed at vegetative stage (55 days after sowing) to investigate their effects on dry mass (DM) production, pod and seed yield in a cowpea (var. Fallon-1). The results revealed that DM was the highest in control (74.3 g/plant) and it decreased significantly with increasing degree of defoliation. Results further showed that pod yield was similar between control and 33% defoliation treatments (average of 31.2 g/plant) and seed yield followed a trend similar to that of pod yield in these treatments (average of 20.5 g/plant). It may be concluded that cowpea variety like Fallon-1 may sustain partial defoliation at vegetative stage without affecting pod and seed yield. The practical implication of the results in relation to pest and disease control, and fodder yield is also discussed