Agromorphological Characterization and Comparative Productivity of 14 Ecotypes of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea L., Verdc.) Under No-Input Farming Conditions in the District of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

The Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L., Verdc.) is a legume belonging to the Fabaceae family and ranks third in terms of production and consumption after peanuts and cowpeas. However, its cultivation is largely neglected and underexploited. Yet its seeds are high in calories and rich in minerals, vitamins, and protein. In Côte d'Ivoire, Bambara groundnut is grown only in the north and center of the country. The main objective of this study was to contribute to food security by evaluating the agronomic performance of 14 Bambara groundnut ecotypes without the use of inputs or phytosanitary products in the autonomous district of Abidjan in southern Côte d’Ivoire. A trial was therefore set up on the experimental plot of the Plant Physiology and Pathology Teaching and Research Unit of Félix Houphouët-Boigny University. Plant growth parameters were assessed at 30 and 45 days after sowing, and yield parameters were assessed at harvest. The results showed variability between ecotypes. The average emergence rate ranged from 31.25% to 83.33%, with the highest performance observed in ecotypes 1 and 2. Plant growth was steady, with average heights ranging from 16.64 to 23.25 cm at 30 DAS and from 22.61 to 26.50 cm at 45 DAS. The highest plant height values were observed in ecotype 2. From a phenological perspective, ecotype 2 was the earliest, initiating flowering at 29 DAS and reaching 50% flowering at 32.33 DAS. Yield parameters also showed significant differences. The average number of pods per plant varied between 22.67 and 64.89. Ecotype 7 had the highest number of pods. The weight of 100 seeds ranged from 41.88 to 66.70 g, with maximum values obtained using ecotypes ECO 1, ECO 5, ECO 8, ECO 9, and ECO 12. All of the ecotypes tested showed an ability to adapt to the soil and climate conditions of southern Côte d’Ivoire.