Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of seed treatments using Neem leaf powder, pepper fruit powder, camphor, groundnut oil and wood ash in combination with five different packaging materials (cloth bag, paper bag, glass bottle, polythene bags and plastic container) on the viability and germination vigor of cowpea seeds. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design in a 5 by 6 factorial with three replications. 1 kg of dried cowpea seeds with a uniform moisture content of 11% were stored for 6 months in different packaging materials in combination with six different seed treatments: No treatment (control), Camphor (Chemical treatment) -4 g/kg of seeds, Neem (Azadirachta indica L.) leaf powder (Botanical) -10 g/kg of seeds, Groundnut Oil / Palm oil - 5 ml/kg seeds, Powdered Dry pepper (Capsicum spp) -10 g/kg of seeds and wood ash 1 kg/kg of seeds. Indoor temperatures were between 25.3 and 30.7°C, outdoor temperatures between 26.1 and 31.1°C and relative humidity between 61.0 and 82%. Results obtained from the study showed that packaging material and seed treatment had high significant effect on the vigor and germination percentage of cowpea seeds. Germination of seeds treated with powdered pepper (73%) and neem leaf powder (72.5%) were significantly higher than other treatments. Seeds stored in plastic containers had the highest vigor and germination percentages (61.1 and 77.1% respectively) followed by glass bottle (60.3 and 72.2% respectively) after 6 months storage period. It seems that for better storage of cowpea seeds for a period not exceeding 6 months it is preferable to use plastic containers and glass bottles in combination with dry powdered pepper or neem leaf powder to maintain seed vigor and viability.

Key words: Cowpea, germination, packaging material, seed treatment, vigor.