Choli
Cowpea for vegetable use; supports multiple seasons with good agronomy management.
Key Features
- Multi-purpose crop (vegetable, grain, fodder)
- Suitable for multiple seasons
- Good nutritional value
- Drought tolerant after establishment
Growing Information
Growing Conditions
Well-drained loam to slightly heavy soil. Suitable for Kharif, Rabi (south), and summer seasons.
Yield Estimates
Green pods: 8-12 tons/ha. Dry seeds: 1.2-1.8 tons/ha. Fodder: 25-30 tons/ha.
Packaging & Usage
Available in various pack sizes. Seeds treated for better germination and disease resistance.
Agronomy & Management
Soil
Well-drained loam to slightly heavy soil. Avoid waterlogging.
Water & Irrigation
Summer: 5-6 irrigations at 10-15 days interval. Critical stages: Flowering → Pod filling → Vegetative growth.
Sowing
Preparation
2 ploughings + leveling. Seed treatment: Thiram 2g + Carbendazim 1g/kg; Rhizobium 10g/kg.
Sowing Depth
2-3 cm
Spacing
Row spacing: 45-30 cm; Plant spacing: 10-15 cm
Sowing Methods
- •Broadcasting (for fodder/green manure)
- •Line sowing in rows (for grain)
- •Dibbling as per purpose/season
Sowing Time
Seed Rate
Grain: 12-18 kg/ha; Fodder/green manure: 30-35 kg/ha; Summer grain: 12-15 kg/ha; Fodder: 40 kg/ha
Harvesting
Vegetable: 45-90 days for green pods. Grain: 90-125 days at full maturity. Fodder: 40-45 days.
Post-Cutting Activities
For grain: Dry pods, thresh, and sun dry seeds. For fodder: Cut stover and dry.
Fertilizer
With last ploughing: FYM/compost 5-10 tons/ha. Poor soil: 15-20 kg N/ha (OC <0.5%), 50-60 kg P₂O₅/ha, 50-60 kg K₂O/ha (as per soil test).
Weed Control
Keep weed-free for first 25-30 days after sowing for high yield.
Pest & Disease Management
Bacterial blight: Copper oxychloride 0.2% (2g/L). Mosaic (aphid transmitted): Oxydemeton-methyl 1ml/L or Imidacloprid 0.2ml/L; repeat after 10 days. Powdery mildew: Wettable sulfur 3g/L or Carbendazim 1g/L. Pod borer: 2% Methyl parathion 25-30 kg/ha dusting or Quinalphos 2ml/L. Hairy caterpillar: Chlorpyrifos/Quinalphos 2ml/L. Aphid/Green leaf hopper: Oxydemeton-methyl 1ml/L or Dimethoate 1.7ml/L.