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Lobia (Cowpea)KharifOpen-pollinatedUpdated 2 September 2026

Pusa Sukomal

A semi-dwarf ICAR-IARI release combining the fastest maturity of any named cowpea on this list with resistance to three of the crop's worst problems at once тАФ virus, leaf spot and bacterial blight.

SeasonKharif
Maturity period42тАУ45 days (kharif); 55тАУ60 days (summer)
Expected yield6.2тАУ6.6 t/ha
Suitable soilLoam

Quick facts

Crop
Lobia (Cowpea)
Type
Open-pollinated
Season
Kharif
Maturity period
42тАУ45 days (kharif); 55тАУ60 days (summer)
Seed rate
15тАУ18 kg/ha given its semi-dwarf, erect habit
Expected yield
6.2тАУ6.6 t/ha
Suitable soil
Loam
Release
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi тАФ exact notification year not confirmed in this research pass

About this variety

Pusa Sukomal is a semi-dwarf, erect cowpea variety from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. Its pods are light green, round, meaty and comparatively fibre-free, running about 30 cm long and 1 cm thick. It matures unusually fast тАФ ready in just 42тАУ45 days when sown in kharif, and 55тАУ60 days in a summer planting тАФ making it one of the quickest cowpea varieties available for a grower who needs to turn a plot around quickly. Sourced agronomy consistently describes it as highly resistant to golden yellow mosaic virus and to leaf spot disease, and additionally resistant to bacterial blight, which together cover the three most damaging disease pressures cowpea faces in North India. Reported yield sits at 6.2тАУ6.6 t/ha.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeOpen-pollinated
    Maturity42тАУ45 days (kharif); 55тАУ60 days (summer)
    Yield potential6.2тАУ6.6 t/ha
    Disease resistanceHighly resistant to golden yellow mosaic virus and leaf spot disease; resistant to bacterial blight
    SoilLoam
    SeasonKharif

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeKharif (JuneтАУJuly) for the fastest 42тАУ45 day cycle, or summer (FebruaryтАУMarch) for a 55тАУ60 day cycle
  • Seed rate15тАУ18 kg/ha given its semi-dwarf, erect habit
  • Spacing40тАУ45 cm between rows, 15 cm between plants for its erect, semi-dwarf habit

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

42тАУ45 days (kharif); 55тАУ60 days (summer)

Expected yield

6.2тАУ6.6 t/ha

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • One of the fastest-maturing named cowpea varieties available тАФ 42тАУ45 days in kharif тАФ letting a grower fit in an extra crop cycle where land is limited.
  • A rare combination of high resistance to golden yellow mosaic virus, leaf spot and bacterial blight together, rather than tolerance to just one disease.
  • Meaty, low-fibre pods that hold their eating quality well.

Things to consider

  • Its very short duration means the harvest window is tight тАФ a delayed picking loses freshness faster than on a longer-duration variety.

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for тАФ check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Delhi
  • Uttar Pradesh
  • Haryana

Frequently asked questions

How fast does Pusa Sukomal mature compared to other cowpea varieties?

It is among the fastest тАФ ready in just 42тАУ45 days when sown in kharif (JuneтАУJuly), or 55тАУ60 days in a summer planting, noticeably quicker than most bush-type cowpea varieties, which typically take 55тАУ65 days or more.