Yield and nutrient content of hydrophonics cowpea sprouts at various stages of growth

Abstract

Hydroponics cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) (NB-4) sprouts were produced daily for 15 days in a hydroponics chamber (greenhouse) equipped with automatic sprayer irrigation of tap water. Cowpea (NB-4) with seed rate of 2.54 kg/m² with replicates of 15 was soaked in tap water individually for 4 h. The seeds were strained and spread in the greenhouse trays. Inside the greenhouse, each replicate was allowed to grow for 9 d, after which it was harvested. The fresh yield (kg/kg seed) of the hydroponically sprouted cowpea (NB-4) increased with the advancement of growing period and remained similar and highest from day 6 (6.34) to 9 (6.63) growing period. Simultaneously, with the growth of the hydroponics cowpea sprouts, the DM content (%) decreased and remained similar and lowest from day 8 (6.91) to day 9 (6.49) growing period. The CP(%) of the hydroponics cowpea fodder was lowest on the day 1 (22.30), then increased and remained similar during seventh (30.10) to ninth (31.23) day sprouting period. The EE content increased and remained similar during day 5 (2.31%) to 8 (2.47%) of sprouting, however, it was highest on day 9 (3.22) of growth. During the growth period of the hydroponics cowpea sprouts, the CF(%) and NFE(%) had an increasing and decreasing trend and was highest and lowest, respectively, on day 9 (21.59 and 38.59). There was an increasing trend in the TA and AIA content of the hydroponics cowpea sprouts with the advancement of the growth period, which was lowest on day 1 (3.99) and highest (5.38) on day 9. It can be concluded that based on the yield and different nutrient contents, cowpea (NB-4) can be sprouted hydroponically for 6-9 days to use as feed supplement for dairy animals.