COWPEA FORAGE AND SEEDS PRODUCTIVITIES AS AFFECTED BY SOME ORGANIC ACIDS AND SOLUBLE CALCIUM UNDER PLANT SPACES

ABSTRACT
A field experiment was carried out at Sids Agricultural Station Farm, Beni Suef Governorate, during 2017 and 2018 seasons to study the effect of two hill spaces (20 and 30 cm) and spray (citric, salicylic, ascorbic acids and soluble calcium) on forage and seed yields of Cowpea (Baldy local variety) and economic evaluation of studied treatments. The experimental layout was arranged in a split plot design in a randomized complete block arrangement with four replications. Mainresults could be summarized as follow:
-  Cowpea plants sown at 30 cm between hills had increased values of number of branches plant^-1, seed yield attributes (pod length, number of pods plant^-1, number of seeds pod^-1, seed weight plant^-1 and 100- seed weight) and forage quality (i.e. crude protein, digestible crude protein, crude fiber and ash  percentages) whereas, 20cm a part between hills recorded the highest values for plant height and cowpea yields fed ^-1 i.e. fresh, dry, CP, DCP and seed yields in combined analysis.
- All yield attributes of cowpea were increased significantly by using organic acid or soluble calcium compared with untreated in both seasons as well as in combined; and soluble calcium was superiority of treated treatments.
- The interaction between 20cm apart between hills and soluble calcium gave the highest values for cowpea yields fed ^-1 i.e. fresh, dry, CP, DCP and seed yields in combined analysis.
- Soluble calcium gave the highest value for net economic return (22075.0L.E) compared with other treated treatments in both seasons and combined.
- It could be concluded that the increased in forage and seed yields of cowpea with organic acids and soluble calcium certainly improving the income of the farmer.