[01] Olasan Olalekan Joseph, Plant Science and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Botany, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Makurdi, Nigeria. [02] Celestine Uzoma Aguoru, Plant Science and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Botany, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Makurdi, Nigeria. [03] Ugbaa Macsamuel Sesugh, Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Science, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Makurdi, Nigeria; Molecular Biology Laboratory, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Makurdi, Nigeria. [04] Ije Lilian, Plant Science and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Botany, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Makurdi, Nigeria. [05] Abama Amos Joshua, Plant Science and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Botany, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Makurdi, Nigeria.

The comparative effect of animal dung (cattle, goat and poultry) and inorganic fertilizer (NPK) on the growth performance of three cowpea varieties IT99K-529-2, IT07K-194-3, IT06K-134 was studied in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) replicated twice. Each replicate contained 18 pots planted to each variety. Growth Performance, plant height, plant spread, number of leaves, percentage germination, seedling vigour, number of branches, stem circumference, leaf size, number of flowers, flower length, trace of diseases and plant performance was taken 3 weeks after planting (WAP) and 2 and 5 weeks after treatment application (WAT). ANOVA revealed that variety had significant effect on number of plants germinated, % germination, number of leaves at 3 weeks after planting, seedling vigour, plant height at 2 and 5 WAT, leaf length, leaf width, plant spread and number of leaves at 5 WAP, day of flowering and flower length. Fertilizer type had significant effect on plant spread 3 WAP, plant height at 2 and 5 WAT, plant spread 5 weeks after treatment and plant performance. Cow dung at the rates of 5 and 7.5 grams gave significantly averagely taller plants (P≤0.05) at 2 and 5 WATA than other fertilizer types. The effect of variety x fertilizer type interaction significantly (P≥0.05) influenced plant height 2 WAT, leaf length, leaf width, plant spread at 5 WAT, number of leaves at 5 WATA and day of flowering among the three cowpea varieties. IT99K-529-2 had the highest plant height 2 WAT (31.60 mm) when 7.5 grams was applied, highest plant spread 5 WAT (51.50 mm) and (49.75 mm) when 5 gram and 7.5 gram of cow dung was applied, highest leaf length (17.40) when cow dung + poultry dung at 5 grams was applied, highest leaf width (5.80) when goat dung + poutry dung at 5 grams was applied. IT06K-134 had the highest number of leaves 5 WAT (27.5) when 5 grams of cow dung was applied, and IT07K-194-3 had the highest days to flowering (48.00) when cow dung + poultry dung and cow dung at 5 gram each were applied. IT99K-529-2 showed highest response and greater potential for better productivity than other varieties when cow dung was applied at 5 grams per 79 m² (632.91 grams per hectare) and at 7.5 grams per 79 m² (949.37 grams per hectare), therefore should be adopted by farmers in Makurdi.

Animal Dung, Cowpea Production, Growth Performance

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