Effect of between Plants Space on Seed Yield Potential of Cow Pea at Dilla Sub- Station, Southern Ethiopia
The study was conducted in Dilla substation with objective of identifying optimum between plant space for optimum seed yield and quality seed. Planting one high yielding which is in seed multiplication status was used as experimental material. Four different between plant space( 10 cm, 20cm, 30cm and 40cm with constant between row space(40cm) were used as experimental treatments in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Plot size was 3 x 2m with an inter-row spacing of 40cm and 1m between replication and plots. Dry matter herbage yield has shown significantly higher in between plant space of 20cm than other treatments (30 and 40 cm) at (p<0.05) which is in contrary to seed yield. Seed yield has showed statistically significant variation at 30cm than at 20 and 10 cm between plants spaces at (p<0.05). Hence, there will be two recommendation options for smallholder producers. To secure feed shortage and increased herbage production 20cm between plant space where as increased seed yield and further researches spacing under intercropping condition in different cereal crops should be conducted to fill the existing knowledge gap and thereby to utilize efficiently existing resources and plaster feed shortage gap.
