Growth, Yield and Grain Quality of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) and Weed Flora as Affected by Physical and Chemical Methods of Weed Control

ABSTRACT This study sought to identify the most effective weed control methods for enhancing growth, yield and grain quality in cowpea and to reduce weed interference during the major and minor rainy seasons of 2022 at Juaso in the Asante Akim South Municipality, Ghana. Sun‐zema at 30 mL/15 L of water, Supremo (90 mL/15 L of water), Vezir (90 mL/15 L of water), Ogyama (100 mL/15 L of water) and Benfop (100 mL/15 L of water), hoeing, cutlass weeding and no weeding were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Data on weed flora, plant height, number of leaves per plant, days to 50% flowering and pod formation, grain yield and yield components and proximate composition of cowpea grains were collected and subjected to analysis of variance using GenStat statistical package (11th edition). Differences in means were compared using the Fisher's protected least significant difference at a probability level of 5%. Significant (p