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cowpea

Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.

Family: Fabaceae · Genus: Vigna

black-eyed pea

Placenta I Ground cover Fertilizer biomass 🌱 Nitrogen fixer
no rights reserved · CC0 · iNaturalist

Annual nitrogen-fixing legume, prostrate or semi-climbing. Adapted to NE Brazil — protein staple of regional cuisine. Short cycle (60–90 days). More drought-tolerant than common bean. Fast fertilizer cover between tree rows during establishment in syntropic systems.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Placenta I
Ecological role
Pioneer
Primary stratum
Ground cover
Strata
Ground cover, Low
Biomass class
Fertilizer biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Low
Drought tolerance
High
Soil pH range
5–7
Preferred soil texture
Sandy, Loamy, Clayey
Hardiness zones
10–13

Morphology

Mature height
0.4–1 m
Recommended spacing
0.4–0.6 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Medium
Growth rate
Very fast
Lifespan
1 year
Time to first harvest
2 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Cowpea takes the Ground cover stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time. It also fixes nitrogen, feeding the soil for its line neighbors.

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Emergent High Medium Low Ground cover · ≈1 m

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of cowpea?

The first harvest of cowpea comes around 2 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for cowpea?

The recommended spacing for cowpea is 0.4–0.6 m.

How tall does cowpea grow?

At maturity, cowpea reaches 0.4–1 m tall.

When does cowpea flower?

Flowering of cowpea occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

What stage and stratum does cowpea occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, cowpea belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the ground cover stratum.

Does cowpea fix nitrogen?

Yes — cowpea is a nitrogen-fixing species that helps fertilize the system's soil.

Functions

🌱 Nitrogen fixer 🍎 Fruit Ground cover Fodder

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. GBIF — Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (accepted, key 2982583) (external_ids)
  2. Feedipedia / PROTA — Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata): cycle, drought tolerance, pH (ph_min, ph_max, drought_tolerance, time_to_first_harvest_months)

External references

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