The improved variety of cowpea, Bundel Lobia 1 (IFC 8401) has been developed at the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi.
- This new cultivar is developed through single plant selection from line IL 515.
- Lobia- 1 is one of the most palatable, nutritious cowpea forage variety that can be grown in summer as well as in rainy season, either as a sole crop or in mixed cropping with maize, pearl millet, and sorghum, etc
- Loam to sandy loam soil with a wide range of pH 5.5-8.0 are suitable to Bundel Lobia 1.
- After testing by All-India Co-ordinated Research Project (Forage), it has proven its superiority over the standard check EC 4216
- The green-fodder yield, dry-matter yield and crude protein recorded in Bundel Lobia 1 are 30.46, 4.33 and 0.60 respectively.
- It is tolerant to diseases and pests, moderately resistant to drought conditions but susceptible to waterlogging conditions.
Harvesting at proper stage yields 30-32.5 tonnes green fodder/ha.
