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ABSTRACT
Climate change is causing a shift in the traditional areas for herd rearing and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.) production. Herds are moving from the savannah to new areas in the Rainforest zone. Associated with this is the introduction of cowpea into the Rainforest zone. Thus, this study evaluated some newly developed cowpea genotypes for their potential for fodder production in a Rainforest agro-ecology of Nigeria. The experiment was conducted during the late growing season of 2021 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin (06o 20‘ 50”N, 5o 37’ 23”E; 78 m asl), Benin City. Thirty newly developed cowpea genotypes obtained from the Breeding Program of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria, were evaluated in this study. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Each treatment was replicated three times. Parameters measured were plant height, ground cover, dry matter and fodder yield. Genotype influenced plant height, ground cover, dry matter and fodder yield. Fodder yield ranged from 1301-3645.6 kg ha-1, suggesting that the newly developed cowpea genotypes have considerable potential for fodder production. Genotypes UAM14-123-18-3, UAM-14-126-L1, UAM14-126-L29, UAM14-126-L30, and UAM14-126-L35, were outstanding in their fodder performance.
