Ebony Cowpea

We recommend Ebony Cowpea. It is resistant to stem rot races 3 and 4 of the severe root rot fungus Phytophthora vignae and has good tolerance to Phytophthora root disease. It is adapted to sandy through to heavy soils down to pH 4.0 (CaCl2). Inoculate with Group I and sow once soil temperatures are 16°C and rising.

We recommend sowing Ebony Cowpea at 15–20 kg/ha. Within that range, the right rate depends on soil moisture, whether the crop is irrigated, and whether you sow it alone or in a mix. Sow 3–5cm deep in 18–35cm rows, aiming for 9–13 plants per m², once soil temperatures are 16°C and rising.

Ebony Cowpea is a good choice, because it is a legume with no prussic acid risk, unlike sorghums. It has high nutritional value and palatability, and it is a good companion legume with forage sorghum or millet, such as our Bounty Forage Sorghum or Shirohie Millet. As with any new feed, introduce stock gradually.

With Ebony Cowpea, the main risks of late sowing are bean fly attack at the 2–3 leaf stage and frost. Ebony is frost susceptible, so a late crop may be cut short in autumn. Sow into warm soil with good moisture, inoculate with Group I, and monitor seedlings closely for bean fly.

For Ebony Cowpea, we recommend sowing 3–5cm deep in 18–35cm rows to achieve 9–13 plants per m². Wider rows give livestock better access and reduce trampling. Sow 15–20 kg/ha of seed inoculated with Group I once soil temperatures are 16°C and rising.

We recommend mixing Ebony Cowpea with forage sorghum or millet, such as our Bounty Forage Sorghum or Shirohie Millet. Ebony is a good companion legume that adds high nutritional value and palatability to hay and silage, and it improves soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. It also has a long production season and good drought tolerance.

Yes, we recommend Ebony Cowpea for acid soils: it suits a soil pH down to 4.0 (CaCl2) and is adapted to a wide range of soil types, from sands to heavy soils. Inoculate with Group I so it can fix nitrogen, and sow 3–5cm deep once soil temperatures are 16°C and rising.

Ebony Cowpea is an excellent summer green manure. It fixes nitrogen when inoculated with Group I and is a good soil conditioner ahead of your winter crop. It is quick to establish, drought tolerant and adapted to many soil types. Terminate it before it sets seed and allow time for the residue to break down before sowing.

We recommend Ebony Cowpea, an annual summer legume with a long production season. It is palatable and nutritious, drought tolerant and has no prussic acid risk. Use the feed before frost, as Ebony is frost susceptible, and sow in wider rows (up to 35cm) to give cattle better access and reduce trampling.

Both are drought tolerant and suit 500mm+ rainfall areas, so check your summer rainfall first. We suggest Ebony Cowpea where root rot is a concern, as it resists Phytophthora stem rot races 3 and 4, and Buff Cowpea where quick flowering matters, as it flowers 49–55 days after sowing. Buff does not like to be waterlogged.