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The elemental concentration of K, Na, P, Ca, Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn, and Mn was determined in seeds of three cultivars of cowpeas [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] treated with 0, 2000, and 4000 ppm simazine as a foliar spray and side dressed with 0, 30, and 60 kg/ha ammonium nitrate fertilizer. The element Ca was increased by the simazine treatment in‘Pinkeye Purple Hull’and Mn was increased by the ammonium nitrate fertilizer treatment in‘Mississippi Silver’. Significant fertilizer by simazine interactions were found with the remaining elements. Similar treatment responses in the elemental concentration were found among the three cultivars. The percentage recommended dietary allowances based on the individual elemental concentrations that a 100s raw edible portion of cowpeas would supply were not significantly affected by the treatments.

Southern pea seeds were grown 2 yrs with treatments of ammonium nitrate fertilizer 0, 30, and 60 kg/ha and simazine 0, 2,000, and 4,000 ppm applied as a foliar spray. Yield, proximate analysis, amino acid content, and protein quality were determined. No differences were found in yield, crude fat, and crude fiber. Ash, protein, and several of the amino acids increased with the 30 and 60 kg/ha nitrogen fertilizer treatments. Treatments with simazine had no effect on the essential amino acid content. In the Southern pea seeds, protein quality was decreased by the treatments with nitrogen fertilizer, simazine, and combinations of these treatments.