Effect of soil cover on charcoal rot in Vigna unguiculata

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of soil covers on the incidence and severity of charcoal rot in cowpea. Two trials were conducted in 5 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, with five soil covers (Brachiaria brizantha, (Brachiaria) Pennisetum glaucum, (Millet) Crotalaria spectabilis, (Crotalaria), polyethylene film and bare soil), two ways of using the soil (sterilized and unsterilized) and two infestation conditions (soil infested with Macrophomina phaseolina and not infested). In the first trial, the cover plants were grown in pots and desiccated with glyphosate for subsequent planting of cowpea. The second trial consisted of new planting of cowpea in the same pots. Evaluation of the incidence and severity of the disease was carried out at 60 days after planting. The dry mass of cowpea in a stove was determined and the soil temperature was monitored with data loggers Campbell CR 1000. The treatments with vegetal cover reduced heating and thermal amplitude relative to bare soil. The polyethylene film provided an increase in the respective rates. In the first cultivation, P. glaucum provided the greatest cowpea dry matter production. The dry matter mass of cowpea was higher in unsterilized soil. The unsterilized soil infested with M. phaseolina caused higher incidence of the disease. In unsterilized soil, B. brizantha was the cover that provided the highest incidence of the disease.