CULTIVATION OF COWPEA IN OXISOLS UNDER THE RESIDUAL EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZATION

The cowpea considered one of the main dietary sources of tropical and subtropical regions. To population of the regions North and Northeast of Brazil represents an important socioeconomic activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate growth characteristics of cowpea under the residual effect of phosphorus fertilization. Research conducted on the screened greenhouse of the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Center of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia-PB. The substrates used were materials Oxisol textures of sandy clay and sandy clay franc that we fertilized with levels of 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 kg ha(-1) of P2O5. After fertilization, the cultures we performed with sunflower, corn and beans, respectively. Were analyzed the stem diameter, main branch length, leaf area, shoot dry weight and water consumption. The effect of residual phosphorus was significant for leaf area, dry weight of shoots and water consumption. The effect of soil was significant for all variables evaluated, except for the consumption of water. Phosphorus fertilization in sunflower, followed by maize cultivation has a positive effect on growth and water use by cowpea, third culture. The Oxisol of sandy clay loam texture led to the highest in diameter at ground level, main branch length and leaf area of cowpea.