Abstract

                                The cowpea (Tam. Karamani or Payaru) is an indigenous plant and has been under enltivation from remote times in most parts of India. It is grown either alone as a subordinate crop-as a second crop in rice fields or more often as a mixed crop along with millets. Bunds round paddy fields are sometimes sown with cowpea. Many varieties are present differing in their habits, in the colour of flowers or in the size and colour of pods and seeds. The seeds are generally sown with the rains in July and the pods are gathered from October to December.

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