Overview

Cow Pea (also known as lobia or black-eyed pea) is a fast-growing leguminous crop valued for its edible seeds and pods. It's a drought-tolerant plant used for vegetables, pulses, and soil improvement due to nitrogen fixation.

Uses

• Culinary: Young pods used as green vegetables; mature seeds cooked as pulses or added to soups and curries.
• Fodder: Used as nutritious green fodder for livestock.
• Soil Enrichment: Improves soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen.
• Health Benefits: Rich in protein, dietary fiber, iron, and folate.

How to Grow

• Climate: Grows well in warm climates; ideal temperature 20–35°C.
• Soil: Prefers sandy loam to loamy soil; well-drained; pH 6.0–7.5.
• Sowing Time: Can be sown during Kharif, Rabi, or summer depending on region.
• Sowing Method: Direct sowing in the field.
• Spacing: 30–45 cm between plants and 60 cm between rows.
• Seed Rate: 20–25 kg/acre.
• Germination Time: 5–7 days.
• Sunlight: Requires 6–8 hours of direct sun daily.

Care Instructions

• Watering: Light watering at regular intervals; avoid waterlogging.
• Fertilization: Apply compost or farmyard manure before sowing. Use light nitrogen and phosphorus if needed.
• Weeding: Perform 1–2 weeding sessions within the first 30 days.
• Pest Control: Watch for aphids, pod borers, and leaf miners. Use neem oil or safe pesticides if necessary.
• Support: Provide trellis or support for climbing varieties.

Harvesting

• Green pods are ready for harvest in 50–60 days.
• Dry seeds are harvested when pods turn brown and dry, around 90–100 days.
• Harvest regularly to encourage more pod production.

Quick Reference Table