Consequence of vigna unguiculata vegetables on production, productivity and soil health management
Authors:   Dr. Sidhartha Kar, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kandhamal
Published: July 2023

Cow pea (Vigna unguiculata) is an annual herbaceous legume vegetable crop comes under family Fabaceae which is liberal to sandy to silt soil, low rain fall and an important crop of African and Asian countries. Due to its ability to grow by using less agricultural input, able to fix atmospheric nitrogen in root nodule and acts as a valuable crop for poor and marginal farming communities its cultivation is increasing Day by Day. Cow pea is also suitable as a best inter crop in fruit orchard, with other vegetables, flowers and plantation crops. Besides that whole plant is used, fruits are for vegetables, leafs are for fodder for cattle and roots are left in ground to improve soil organic matter. The experimental district Kandhamal of Odisha, India, which is situated in 19˚34’ & 20˚50’ North latitude & 83˚30’ & 84˚48’ East longitude and comes under North – Eastern Ghats agro climatic zone of the State Odisha, India. The Mean Sea Level is varies from 300 meters to 1100 meters due to the presence of hills & mountain. The favorable climatic condition suitable for agricultural farming, but due to leaching and erosion of nutrients, the soil standard is deteriorating and soil reports reflects the low nitrogen label and low to medium soil organic carbon and also farmers economical standard and minor farming communities are also barrier to adopt scientific farming system that is 31 % of land (29088 hectare) under marginal holding, 36 % of land (33868 hectare) under small operational holding , 12 % of semi medium land holding & 21 % land under medium and large land holding farming communities. Keeping the soil status and demographic agricultural pattern the experiment on “Consequence of Vigna unguiculata vegetables on production, productivity and soil health management” has been carried out during 2020 to 2022 at Kandhamal District of Odisha, India by using Kashi Kanchan and Utkala Manika varieties of Cow pea as recommended and farmer practice. Treatments are replicated in 10 different villages to observe the growth, production, soil nitrogen label and economics of the experiment as well. It was concluded that increase of soil Nitrogen 59.6 Kg. per hectare which was observed 28.42 % more than there before experiment. Apart from this by crop residues of Vigna unguiculata, soil organic carbon increases up to 42.10 % in comparison to soil data observed before experiment. It was also concluded that there is a remarkable vegetative growth and reproductive growth by treatment T2 and an increase in yield by variety T2 - Kashi Kanchan that is 168.11 quintal per hectare which is around 5.42 times more yield than traditional varieties. Economics of the experiment concluded that T2 that is Kashi Kanchan variety of cow pea has best return in terms of green pod and fodder altogether around Rs. 1,67,170 / - net profit with cost benefit ratio of 1 : 2.97. By consuming of Vigna (Cow pea) provides us energy and make our health free from several blood, skin, hair and body weight related diseases. This crop also encourages establishment of pulse and fodder industries which have a global demand at present.