In rural areas, farmers cultivate various vegetables, and cowpeas are one of them. They are relatively easy to grow but may encounter issues during cultivation, such as wilting after flowering. What causes cowpeas to wither after flowering, and what are the solutions? Let's find out below!
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Reasons for Cowpeas Withering after Flowering:
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The wilting of cowpeas after flowering may be caused by pests and diseases, particularly thrips. Thrips activity on the leaves and flower buds can damage the tender leaves and newly emerged shoots of cowpeas.
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Thrips pose significant threats to cowpeas by damaging stems, branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, and even underground roots. They reproduce rapidly throughout the year, with small initial body sizes that are hard to detect. By the time they become visible, significant damage may have occurred, leading to yellowing and wilting of the plants.
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Solutions for Cowpeas Withering after Flowering:
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Prevention before planting and timely management after planting are crucial to address thrips infestations. Treatment should focus not only on the cowpeas but also on soil disinfection to eliminate thrips eggs.
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Pre-treat the soil before planting by creating a moist environment, as thrips are sensitive to high humidity and temperature. Surround the planting area with soil to form a pool, allowing it to be soaked thoroughly with rainwater or irrigation. After soaking for 3-5 days, expose the soil to sunlight to reduce thrips activity and prevent infestations.
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During the growth period, apply appropriate pesticides to control thrips infestations. Spraying with insecticides such as imidacloprid or pyrethroids can effectively reduce thrips damage. Spraying should be done in the morning, avoiding high temperatures at noon. Weed removal near cowpeas can reduce thrips breeding and transmission, enhance plant ventilation, and increase photosynthesis efficiency.
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If cowpeas have already been planted, soil disturbance should be minimized to avoid damaging the roots. Instead, apply insecticide directly to the roots, known as root irrigation, usin
g products like imidacloprid water-dispersible granules.
That's all for today's sharing. If cowpeas wilt after flowering, it may be due to thrips infestation. Farmers should take appropriate measures to address this issue. Hope this helps!
