RESPONSE OF COWPEA {VIGNA UNGUICULATA (L.) WALP.} TO FOLIAR NUTRITION OF ZINC AND IRON IN THE OXISOLS OF KERALA

Field experiments were conducted under AICRP on Arid Legumes during kharif seasons 2001–2002 to elucidate the response of cowpea to zinc and iron fertilization for augmenting the crop productivity. Result of the study indicated that foliar application of micronutrients like iron and zinc has significant influence on the yield of cowpea. Combined spraying of 0.5% FeSO4 and 0.5% ZnSO4 at 45 DAS proved most effective and increased the seed yield by 43.09 per cent when compared with control followed by combined spraying of 0.5% FeSO4 and 0.5% ZnSO4 at 25 DAS (40.14%). The net return and benefit cost ratio also followed the same trend.