Cowpea Growth and Yield Components as Affected by Drought and Pk Soil Fertilization

Pot experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of the National Research Centre, Shalakan, Kalubia Governorate, during the summer seasons to evaluate the effect of PK fertilizers on growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. ) plants growth under drought through two stage of growth compared to plants irrigated regularly. Subjected cowpea plants to shortage of water by withholding of water at 35 days from sowing pronouncedly decreased plant height, number of leaves and fresh weight of stem, leaves and whole plants. Delaying drought to 70 days after sowing affected those mentioned characters but with lesser degrees. All fertilizing treatments increased the measured growth parameters in comparison with that irrigated regularly. Generally, the highest values of plant height, no of leaves no of cops and fresh weight of stem, leaves and whole plant. Addition of K1 in corporation with P1 increased plant height but when doses increased to P2K2 did not exert any effects. The reverse was true for fresh weight of leaves. Meanwhile, the no of leaves and cops and fresh weight of shoots as well as whole plant show positive response and synergistic effects with the increase in P and K doses. P1K1 increased the above mentioned criteria by 40.57, 48.23, 33.40, 42.36 and 37.87 % and P2K2 increased it by 50.29, 78.68, 59.99, 62.93 and 61.46 % respectively, compared to that of unfertilized plants. The increment in stem, leaves and whole plants can be illustrated as a result of: P1K1