October 21, 2020
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Two cowpea varieties, Kanannado (local) and IT 89KD 288 (improved) were grown in farm yard manure (FYM) fertilized and non-fertilized soils at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Kano Station, Nigeria to study cytokinin mobilization of nitrogen from source to sink. Foliar application application of 2002 ppm benzyl amino purine (BAP) and 15% coconut milk (CM) were made in three doses. The control plants were neither treated with FYM nor the hormones. Data were collected on nitrogen and protein contents in the leaves and grains of vegetable cowpea and changes in chlorophyll were also monitored. It was found that plants from FYM fertilized soils and sprayed with 200 ppm BAP and 15% CM accumulated greater nitrogen and protein in their leaves and grains. These were followed by plants from non-fertilized soils but similarly sprayed with the hormones. The level of chlorophyll declined as number of weeks after sowing increased. By 9 weeks, plants from non-fertilized soils but sprayed with 15%CM and 200 ppm BAP had greater chlorophyll. The levels of nitrogen, protein and chlorophyll varied with variety and planting season. Higher contents were recorded in IT89KD-288 and in the dry season. This study shows the efficiency of 200 ppm BAP and 15% CM in mobilizing and transporting nitrogen from the source to the sink and its incorporation in protein synthesis. It implies that protein content may be enhanced by the combined treatments. It also suggests that chlorophyll degradation could be slowed down by the application of 15% CM and 200 ppm BAP.