Effect of boron, molybdenum and biofertilizers on growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in acid soil of eastern Himalayan region

Unavailability of essential micronutrients is a major constrain for cowpea growth, nodulation and pod yield under acid soil condition. In this context a two year field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of boron, molybdenum and biofertilizers on growth, nodulation and pod yield of vegetable cowpea in acid soil of eastern Himalayan region. Treatments consisted of four levels of seed treatment with molybdenum and biofertilizers (Rhizobium + PSB) and four levels of foliar spray of boron, laid out in split plot design. The result revealed that combined use of seed treatment with molybdenum (0.5 g/kg seed) and biofertilizers along with foliar spray of boron at 4 weeks of planting significantly enhanced the growth and yield attributes of cowpea and registered 42% and 54% improvement in number of pod and pod yield/plant respectively over control, whereas seed treatment with molybdenum (0.5 g/kg seed) and biofertilizers alone recorded 76% and foliar spray of boron at 4 weeks of planting alone produced 39% higher pod yield/plant over control.