Cowpea in traditional cropping systems

The production of cowpea in Africa and America is reviewed briefly. In traditional cropping systems in West Africa, a diversity of both systems and varieties is observed. The contribution of cowpea to overall productivity is small (on average about a tenth of grain yields, averaging 1.5 l/ha), and t...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Mortimore, M., Singh, B., Harris, F., Blade, S.
Formato: Capítulo de libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 1997
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/95974
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author Mortimore, M.
Singh, B.
Harris, F.
Blade, S.
author_browse Blade, S.
Harris, F.
Mortimore, M.
Singh, B.
author_facet Mortimore, M.
Singh, B.
Harris, F.
Blade, S.
author_sort Mortimore, M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The production of cowpea in Africa and America is reviewed briefly. In traditional cropping systems in West Africa, a diversity of both systems and varieties is observed. The contribution of cowpea to overall productivity is small (on average about a tenth of grain yields, averaging 1.5 l/ha), and this fact, together with drought and pest vulnerability, creates a paradox in view of its widespread popularity. The answer to this paradox may lie in cowpea's labor complementarity with the major grain crops, and its value for human diets, livestock fodder, and soil nutrient interactions. Farming systems in this region are changing and are being driven by four sets of factors: population growth (increasing land scarcities), market integration (urban demand), technological change (new cultivars and production methods), and intensification (adaptive change in soil fertilization regimes). Cowpea plays an important role in nutrient cycling (N) in the high-intensity system of the Kano close settled zone in northern Nigeria, while genetic diversity is exploited to minimize risk in the drier areas. Research and extension agencies should recognize the systemic linkages of cowpea in maintaining sustainable farming systems, and the need to support diversity and indigenous technology.
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spelling CGSpace959742023-06-08T20:54:33Z Cowpea in traditional cropping systems Mortimore, M. Singh, B. Harris, F. Blade, S. cropping systems cowpeas farmers vegetable The production of cowpea in Africa and America is reviewed briefly. In traditional cropping systems in West Africa, a diversity of both systems and varieties is observed. The contribution of cowpea to overall productivity is small (on average about a tenth of grain yields, averaging 1.5 l/ha), and this fact, together with drought and pest vulnerability, creates a paradox in view of its widespread popularity. The answer to this paradox may lie in cowpea's labor complementarity with the major grain crops, and its value for human diets, livestock fodder, and soil nutrient interactions. Farming systems in this region are changing and are being driven by four sets of factors: population growth (increasing land scarcities), market integration (urban demand), technological change (new cultivars and production methods), and intensification (adaptive change in soil fertilization regimes). Cowpea plays an important role in nutrient cycling (N) in the high-intensity system of the Kano close settled zone in northern Nigeria, while genetic diversity is exploited to minimize risk in the drier areas. Research and extension agencies should recognize the systemic linkages of cowpea in maintaining sustainable farming systems, and the need to support diversity and indigenous technology. 1997 2018-07-05T06:30:21Z 2018-07-05T06:30:21Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/95974 en Open Access Mortimore, M., Singh, B., Harris, F. & Blade, S. (1997). Cowpea in traditional cropping systems. In B.B. Singh, D.R. Mohan Raji and K.E. Dashiel, Advances in cowpea research. Ibadan, Nigeria: IITA, (p. 99-113).
spellingShingle cropping systems
cowpeas
farmers
vegetable
Mortimore, M.
Singh, B.
Harris, F.
Blade, S.
Cowpea in traditional cropping systems
title Cowpea in traditional cropping systems
title_full Cowpea in traditional cropping systems
title_fullStr Cowpea in traditional cropping systems
title_full_unstemmed Cowpea in traditional cropping systems
title_short Cowpea in traditional cropping systems
title_sort cowpea in traditional cropping systems
topic cropping systems
cowpeas
farmers
vegetable
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/95974
work_keys_str_mv AT mortimorem cowpeaintraditionalcroppingsystems
AT singhb cowpeaintraditionalcroppingsystems
AT harrisf cowpeaintraditionalcroppingsystems
AT blades cowpeaintraditionalcroppingsystems