Application Of Organic Matter To Increase Growth And Yield Of Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L.) Under Drought Stress Conditions

Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) or better known as tolo bean is a plant that can be developed, because it contains high nutrition, especially protein, this causes cowpea as a substitute for soybeans.The research that will be carried out aims to: 1) obtain cowpea cultivation technology under drought stress conditions with selected organic matter 2) obtain the best combination of drought stress and types of organic matter that can increase the growth and yield of cowpea. The research method was carried out by experimenting in a green house, the study was carried out in August – November 2020. The experiment was treated with a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with two factors. The first factor is organic matter and consists of three kinds, namely: Control (without organic matter) (CO), Manure (PK), Rice husk biochar (BC).The second factor is drought stress which consists of 3 types, namely: 50% field capacity (K1), 75% field capacity (K2) and 100% field capacity (K3). From the treatment, 9 experimental combinations were obtained and each experiment was repeated 3 times so that 27 units of treatment combinations were obtained. The results showed that the application of organic matter in the form of cow manure and 75% field capacity ould be used in cowpea cultivation under drought stress conditions. Giving 75% field capacity was still able to maintain the growth and yield of cowpea on the number of leaves, leaf area, number of filled pods, number of seeds and seed weight. Cow manure was able to increase the growth and yield of cowpea under drought stress conditions with 75% field capacity which was indicated by the interaction on the total dry weight parameter of the plant.The proline content of cowpea leaves increases as the field capacity decreases.