Understanding Options for Improving Cowpea Production under Changing Climatic and variability in Rain-Forest Agro-ecology of Nigeria

Abstract Options for improving cowpea production under influence of climate change and variability impacts such as delayed onset, early cessation and shortened length of growing season in rain forest agro-ecological zone of Nigeria was investigated in this study. In order to achieve a sustainable improvement in cowpea production using selection of planting dates option for good growth and yield of cowpea, three planting dates were selected at two weeks interval starting from the onset of rain. This research was conducted during the growing season of 2021 and 2022 at the Laboratory for Geoecology and sustainable food systems (GeoLab), Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria (7°15’N, 5°15’E) and project farm of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (I.A.R&T.) Ibadan, Nigeria (7°22‘N; 3°.30‘E). Both locations are within the rain-forest agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. The varieties of cowpea used are, FUAMPEA 2(V1), Ife Brown (V2) and 573-1-1(V3). The planting spacing of 25cm x 75cmcrop was followed. Variables measured are plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, days to 50% flowering, number of peduncle per plant, number of pods per peduncle, number of seeds per pod, pod length, 100 seed weight and yield per hectare. Cultivar differences were noticed among the three varieties of cowpea which indicated their generic differences. Ife Brown and 573-1-1 matured earlier than FUAMPEA 2. Ife Brown had more pods per plant, shorter pod length, fewer numbers of seeds per pod and smaller seeds than FUAMPEA 2 and 573-1-1 varieties of cowpea. Generally, the plant growth and yield parameters decreased with delayed planting irrespective of location and variety of cowpea planted. Maximum yield for FUAMPEA 2, Ife Brown and 573-1-1 planted in Akure are 1.48tons/ha, 1.47tons/ha and 1.22 ton/ha respectively while the maximum yield of cowpea planted in Ibadan for V1,V2 and V3 are 1.36 tons/ha, 1.38 tons/ha and 1.12 ton/ha respectively. Planting of cowpea for good grain yield is best done at the onset of rains in rain-forest of Nigeria. Through this adaptation strategy, the negative effects of climate change on cowpea production are reduced and positive influences enhanced.