evaluating the effect of fertilizers on physiological growth, chemical, bioactive components and secondary metabolites in vigna unguiculata (l.)

Objective: vigna unguiculatata (l.) (cowpea) is an african indigenous protein-dense crop that most sub-saharan africans rely on for food and nutrition security. material and methods: the current study assessed the effect of different levels of poultry manure fertilizer (10, 30, 60 and 90 kg f/ha) and nitrogen fertilizer (30, 45, 60 and 90 kg n/ha) on the growth, yield, mineral composition, bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites in the legume crop vigna unguiculata (l.). at the end of 15 weeks, 90 kg f/ha and 45 kg n/ha enhanced the growth, yield, mineral composition, production of ascorbic acid, total phenolic and frap assay, this informed our decision for the selection of this treatments (45kgn/ha, 90kgf/ha and 0kg/ha control) for further analyses of secondary metabolites. results: poultry manure and nitrogen fertilizer improved the mineral compositions of cowpea leaves, and different accumulation trends were noted depending on different application levels, with poultry manure responding well. conclusion: thus, the application of organic poultry manure at 90 kg f/ha for cowpea cultivation should potentially be recommended in the mpumalanga province.