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Pakistan Journal of Phytopathology, vol.34, no.1, pp.57-63, 2022 (Scopus)
© 2022. Pak. J. Phytopathol. All Rights Reserved.In Niger Republic, one of the endogenous farming practices adopted by small-scale farmers to control severe damping-off and improve the plant stands of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L., Walp) is high seeding density. This study aims to evaluate the effect of this practice in controlling the charcoal rot of cowpea caused by Macrophomina phaseolina. The field experiment was conducted at AGRHYMET Regional Centre of Niamey consisted of; plots sown at a density of 1, 2, 3, and 4 seeds per planting hole. The results showed that 10 days after sowing, the plant stand was significantly higher in plots sown with one seed per planting hole (83%) whilst the plots sown with 3 and 4 seeds per planting hole had the lowest plant stand (63%). The plots with seeding densities 4 and 3 seeds per planting hole recorded the highest incidence of the disease at the harvest period with 44% and 33% of dead plants respectively. Furthermore, in the plots sown with 4 seeds per planting hole, the density of M. phaseolina per root tissues was the highest (21680 sclerotia.g-1). The seeding density did affect also the pod and average grain yield of cowpea, as compared with high seeding densities plots. According to the results of the study, the small-scale farmer's endogenous farming practices of varying seeding density increase the severity of charcoal rot and reduce yield. Consequently, the agricultural services should raise the awareness of the small-scale farmers about the threat of such practices to the development of the cowpea sector.