'Cowpea improves soil fertility'

The farmers were advised to grow cow pea in the humid land and following the advice the farmers secured a bumper crop in an extent of five acres in a brief span of two months. The Kshetrotsava was organised to spread awareness on this practice.

Prof Gubbaiah of University of Agricultural Sciences said cowpea increased soil fertility and promotes balance in the ecology.  The tumours in the roots absorb nitrogen from the soil and promote growth of the plant. It also facilitates to improve the physical properties of soil.

Under normal circumstances one can grow up to four quintals of cowpea per acre and about 2,000 quintals of foliage. The foliage could be used as fodder for cattle or as a manure.

Agriculture expert D Bhanuprakash said 100 kg of cowpea foliage contains 2.3 kg of nitrogen, half kg of phosphorous and 2.1 kg of potash. Thus the minerals could be made available naturally, without making use of any chemicals he said.