Ethnobotanical investigation and Morphobiometric characterization of different cowpea seeds (vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata (L.) walp.) in the Hoggar region (Algerian Sahara): acquisition and future investment project for food security in Algeria.

Abstract

This survey was conducted to establish an inventory of cowpea culture in the arid region of southern Algeria in 2018. To this end, missions were organized to collect accessions, provide information on cultural practices and traditional knowledge related to this culture a semi-questionnaire The European Commission has set up a European Agricultural Information Society. The study found that among the farmers surveyed. This study showed that of the farmers surveyed, 70.02% were men and 29.07% were women. Farmers cultivate cowpea on small areas, its production is used only for own consumption and a small one is marketed in villages where the plant is grown, the farmers interviewed use three main parts: seeds, green pods and hay. After harvest, the rest of the plant (leaves and stems) is used to feed livestock (sheep and cattle). Cowpea cultivation is in danger of extinction, according to the majority of farmers surveyed, diseases and insect attacks are low (32%). In addition, low rainfall, electricity and labor shortages during manual harvesting appear to be the main production constraints reported by the farmers interviewed. While farmers are satisfied with the yields obtained. The results obtained by biometric morpho characterization showed a wide phenotypic variability of the seeds However, significant differences were detected in several morphological characters.