Cultivo do Feijão-Caupi sob cobertura morta e água disponível no solo.

Abstract

Cowpea (vlgna ur7gu/cu/afa (L.) Walp) has great socioeconomic importance to family farming as both an energy source and an income alternative. However, its productivity is considered low due to the use of varieties with low productive capacity associated to the predominance of the crop under rainfed, being the water deficit one of the main factors that negatively influence its productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and production components of cowpea (Vlgna ur7gu/cu/afa (L.) Walp.) under the influence of di#erent leveis of available water in the soil with and without mulching under the conditions of Pombas-PB. The statistical design adopted was a randomized block design, in a 4 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, corresponding to the available water leveis (AD) (40; 60, 80 and 100% AD), two genotypes of cowpea (BRS Pujante and Costela de Vaca), with dead cover (CC) and without dead cover (SC) on the soil, with four replications, totaling 16 treatments and 64 experimental units. The parameters: stem diameter (DC), main stem length (CHP), number of leaves per plant (NF), leaf área (AF), number of pods per plant (NV), pod length , Number of grains per pod (NGV) and weight of one hundred grains (PI 00G). The water deficit negatively influenced all analyzed variables, regardless of the management system or genotype usedl The genotype BRS Pujante was superior in the productive parameters NV, CV, and P100G when submitted to the leveis between 78 to 95% of AD in the soill The genotype of Costela de Vaca was superior in the variables CHP. NF and NV when submitted to water stress: Soil cover reduced the effects of water stress under the growth and development of both genotypes analyzed in the present study.