Reproductive performance of two Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L)Walp) varieties Ife brown and TVX3236 as influenced by Imidazolinone and Dinitroaniline herbicides

Weed control management was carried out in plots of two cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) varieties Ife brown and TVX3236 at the University of Ilorin main Campus during 2004 and 2005 cropping seasons. Imidazolinone (Imazaquin, and Imazethapyr) and Dinitroaniline (pendimethalin) herbicides were used as weed control agents. Results of this study revealed that these herbicides were adequate both as pre and early post emergence applications for weed control in cowpea without serious set back on the reproductive parameters such as number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant, seed number per plant, pod length, seed number per pod and pod filling potential. Seed number per pod was higher in herbicide treatments than the weedy control in both cowpea varieties. However, reduction in seed number per pod was noticed in higher concentration of 0.375 kg a.i./ha in the pre-emergence application of pendimethalin, pursuit plus and the early post emergence application of pursuit plus. There was no reduction in the pod length of both varieties by any of the herbicide treatments.