Production of semi-prostrate cowpea bean in dry and irrigated cultivation

Abstract

Seventeen lineages and three cultivars of cowpea bean, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., were evaluated in dry and irrigated cultivations, in two assays, in the experimental field of the Middle-north Agricultural Research Center (CPAMN) of Embrapa Middle-North (Brazilian Company of Agricultural Research), in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil (located at 5º 5’ 12" S and 42º 48’ 42" W, with 72 m of altitude) in the period from April to December 2006. The experiment was  made with a completely randomized block design with four replications. The evaluated characters were: the agronomic value (VC), pod length (COMPV), number of grains per pod (NGV), one hundred grains weight (P100G), grains index (IG) and yield (PROD). The MNC99-541F-15, TE96290-12G, MNC99-547F-2, MNC99-510F-16 and TE97-304G-12 lineages, and the BRS-Marataoã and BR-17 Gurguéia cultivars showed the highest yields in the dry cultivation. From another standpoint, the MNC99-542F-5, TE96-290-12G, TE97-304G-12, MNC99-541F-18, TE97-309G-24, MNC99510F-16, TE97-304G-4, MNC99-547F-2, MNC99-510F16 lineages and the BRS Paraguaçu cultivar stood out in the irrigated cultivation. The lineages TE96-290-12G, MNC99-510F-16 and TE97-304G-4 showed good yield levels in both cultivation systems. These results, besides identifying the genotypes with the highest yield potential, suggest that it is possible to select genotypes for dry cultivation, irrigated cultivation and for both of them.