Seed Hydro-Priming and Early Moisture Stress Impact on Biomass Production and Grain Yield of Cowpea
Fabunmi, T.O; Gbadamosi, B. K; Adigbo, S.O.

Abstract
Early moisture stress is often unavoidable when cowpea is grown either for green manure or for grain production in derived savannah of Nigeria. The effects of seed hydro-priming on biomass production and grain yield of cowpea under early moisture stress condition was evaluated in a screen house between August-December 2011, in the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. The trial was a 4x3x2 factorial in completely randomized design replicated thrice. The factors were priming hours (0, 4, 6, and 8), moisture stress: application of water as from 1, 2 or 3 weeks after planting (WAP), two cowpea varieties (Oloyin and Drum). From the results maximum priming hours were 4 and 6 for Oloyin and Drum respectively. Oloyin primed for 4 hrs had significantly higher dry matter than Drum at 6 WAP under moisture stress condition. However early moisture stress led to significant reduction in seed yield of early maturing Oloyin. Reduction in growth was more with plants from unprimed seeds under severe moisture stress condition. Varieties of the same crop might require varying priming hour; cowpea can be sown after a heavy rain and if rainfall is expected within 21 days after sowing.

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