Use of Ash for Soil Fertility Improvement Effect on Cowpea

Different rates of wood ash at 0 to 6t/ha were applied to cowpea crop in an experiment carried out at Akure, Southwest Nigeria to study effects of ash on cowpea performance soil and plant nutrients composition. The experimental soil is slightly acidic, low in available P and exchangeable Ca. Ash increased soil pH which increased with the rate of ash. Available P, exchangeable Ca, K and Mg were increased. Concentrations of N, P and Ca in plant increased between 0 to 6t/ha ash, and K and Mg increased between 0 to 6t/ha ash. Plant height, number of leaves, pod length, fresh and pod weight increased with rate of ash between 0 to 6t/ha.