The cowpea as an alternative in food security for the rural sector of Buenaventura.

López Molina, Javier | 2012

In the vi11age of Zacarías the adaptation of 8 varieties of cowpea beans (Vigna unguiculata) to the edafodimatic conditions of Buenaventura, whose principal characteristics, acidic soils and low fertility, high temperatures, 1ow insulation, high precipitation and high relative humidity makes the cultivation of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) difficult. Planting was done on a plece of land belonging to la Institución Educativa Atanasia Girardot with the plants separated at 15 cm distance and the beds at 50 cm for final total population of 133.333 p1ants per hectare. Germination took place 5 to 6 days after planting and folia­ tion 45 to 51 days after that, depending on the variety. Harve1sting of the varieties produced was done once a week, from day 60 to day 104, with the variety IT95K-52-34 excelting with a production of 1.212 kilograms of grains per hectare. lt was concluded that the ease of cultivation of this legume of high nutritional value added to its high performance and short production time of (70) makes it an alternative to improve the food security in the sector of rural Buenaventura.