Crop details

Black-eyed pea

Vigna unguiculata

Family: Fabaceae

Quick stats

Family	Fabaceae
Typical harvest	1.6 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	6
Seasons	0

Crop profile

Growth habit	annual
Days to harvest	75
Main uses	Dry grain for stews, boiled beans and flour; young leaves and haulms used as livestock feed.
Pollination	self
Origin / where it grows	Black-eyed pea is a type of cowpea grown widely in warm, semi-arid and subhumid areas of East Africa, often intercropped with maize or sorghum.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	22–30 °C
Rainfall	400–700 mm/yr
Altitude	0–1600 m
Best pH	5.5–7
Soil type	Light to medium, well-drained sandy loam or loam. Black-eyed pea tolerates poorer soils better than many beans.
Row spacing	60 cm
Plant spacing	15 cm
Planting depth	3 cm
Seed rate	20 kg/ha
Nursery days	—

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 75 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for dry grain for stews, boiled beans and flour; young leaves and haulms used as livestock feed..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by self. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Black-eyed pea is a type of cowpea grown widely in warm, semi-arid and subhumid areas of East Africa, often intercropped with maize or sorghum. It is grouped under: Legumes & Pulses.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 400 to 700 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 1600 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 5.5 to 7. It does well in light to medium, well-drained sandy loam or loam. black-eyed pea tolerates poorer soils better than many beans.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 60 centimetres apart, and leave about 15 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 3 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 20 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Plant Black-eyed pea at the onset of rains. Place 2–3 seeds per hole along the row, cover lightly with soil and thin to one strong plant per station.

Transplanting: Direct seeded in the field; seedlings are not transplanted.

Irrigation: The crop is drought tolerant but needs moisture for germination, flowering and pod filling. It can give a harvest with short but well-distributed rains.

Fertigation: As a legume, Black-eyed pea fixes nitrogen. Give a small starter dose of phosphorus; additional nitrogen is usually unnecessary.

Pest scouting: Scout weekly for flower thrips, aphids, pod borers and leaf spots. Inspect flowers and pods closely for small insects and fresh feeding damage.

Pruning: No pruning needed. Keep the field weed-free especially during the first 4–5 weeks until the canopy closes.

Harvest: For dry grain, harvest when most pods are dry and straw turns yellow-brown but before pods split and shed seed. For fresh use, pick when seeds are well filled but pods are still green.

Postharvest: Dry plants or pods on clean tarpaulins, thresh gently, dry grain until hard and store in airtight or treated bags to protect against weevils and bruchids.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal at planting	0	NPK with P (e.g., 0-23-19) or TSP + K source	50 kg/ha	N: 0, P₂O₅: 12, K₂O: 10	Apply in small bands or spots near, but not touching, the seed row.
2	Optional K topdress (early flowering)	30	Muriate of potash (MOP) or K-containing NPK	20 kg/ha	N: 0, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 10	Use mainly where crop residues are removed and soils test low in potassium.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	8	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	20	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	15	kg/ha
N	Topdress_early	0	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_early	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_early	10	kg/ha

Field images (picha shambani)

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
Early Black-eyed pea (bush type)	KE	65	Early maturing, upright plants, suited to short rains and relay cropping.
Medium-duration Black-eyed pea	TZ	75	Good grain size and cooking quality; tolerant to moderate drought.
Local Black-eyed pea landrace	KE	80	Traditional taste and adaptation; moderate yield.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	NPK with P (e.g., 0-23-19) or TSP + K source	50	Provides phosphorus and potassium to support rooting and early growth.
Topdress (optional K)	Muriate of potash (MOP) or K-rich NPK	20	Used mainly in fields low in potassium or with frequent residue removal.

Name	Type	Management
Flower thrips	pest	Plant early, avoid very late planting and use recommended insecticides only when damage is severe.
Aphids	pest	Encourage natural enemies and apply selective sprays only when aphids are very many.
Pod borers	pest	Scout during flowering and early podding and treat early when first damage is seen.
Leaf spots and blights	disease	Use clean seed, rotate with non-legume crops and avoid continuous cropping on the same land.
Root rots (in poorly drained soils)	disease	Improve drainage, avoid waterlogging and rotate crops.
Storage weevils and bruchids	pest	Dry grain well and store in airtight or treated bags; clean stores between seasons.

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Smallholder rainfed (low input)	0.8	0.5	1.2	Local seed, little fertilizer, basic weeding and limited pest control.
Smallholder rainfed (improved management)	1.5	1	2	Improved Black-eyed pea/cowpea varieties, good spacing, starter P, timely weed and pest control.
High input / irrigated	2.5	1.8	3	Reliable moisture, balanced nutrients and well-managed pests and diseases.

No season calendars yet.

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	ASAL (arid and semi-arid lands)
KE	Eastern and coastal mixed farming zones
KE	Very wet highland zones with heavy soils
TZ	Central plateau and northern dry zones
UG	Drier mixed farming and cattle corridor areas