Cow pea grows well in all types of soils. A well drained, fertile and sandy loam soils are preferred. Ideal soil pH range is 5.5 to 6.

Cow pea is warm season crop. It is grown to humid tropics and subtropical zones. It is tolerates to heat and dry conditions but susceptible to frost. Mean monthly temperature of 20 to 35oC is the most ideal. It cannot withstand heavy rainfall and water logging.

It is summer season crop. Cow pea is annual crop. Cow pea is self pollinated crop due to cleistogamy. Cow pea is rich in protein, calcium, magnesium and other minerals. It is used as both green pods and dry seeds. It is also grown for foder and green manure crop.

Cow pea is sown in two seasons in plains viz. Spring-summer crop (February-March) and rainy season (June-July). About 20-30 kg seed is required for a hectare. Spacing is kept 45 x 15 cm. Seed treatment with thiram is done @ 4 g/kg of seed. Seed inoculation with biofertilizer Rhizobium spp. helps in quick nodulation on the roots which helps in fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.

Being a leguminous vegetable, cow pea requires less nitrogen because cow pea can fix atmospheric nitrogrn. In general 20 tones FYM and 30:60:60 kg of N, P, K are given. Full dose of FYM should be applied at the time of last ploughing and incorporated into soil. Entire dose of N, P and K should be applied as basal dose. It favours nitrogen fixation by increasing nodule formation.

Cow pea is hardy crop comes well under rainfed condition. However, for better growth and yield proper supply of moisture is essential. Lack of adequate soil moisture results in reduced percentage of pod setting, reduced length of pods and reduced number of seeds per pod. Summer crop require irrigation once in a week during March to April. Cow pea is shallow rooted crop. Shallow cultivation is to be done at early stages of crop growth. Deep cultivation will disturb plant growth because of root pruning. Cultivation in early stages helps to keep down the weeds. Staking is important operation in cow pea.

Pods are ready for harvesting after 50-60 days after sowing. Pods are picked up when they are tender and half grown. Pods of cow pea develop very quickly and if they are not picked at right stage they tend to become fibrous. Cow pea has to be more frequently picked. Average green yield is 80-100q/h.