COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROMIMATE AND MINERALCOMPOSITION OF TWO VARIETIES OF COWPEA GROWM IN KAURA NAMODA, ZAMFARA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Two varieties (white and brown) of cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) seeds were sourced from farmers in Kaura Namoda and analyzed for their proximate and elemental contents using standard analytical methods. The results of the proximate analysis obtained showed the percentage moisture content as (7.20, 6.80)%, ash content as (4.48, 4.20)%, lipid content as (2.60, 2.13)% and fiber content (3.93 and 3.10)% for brown and white respectively. All the values were higher in brown beans and found to be significantly different at (p<0.05) except for moisture content which show no significant different among the two varieties. The percentage crude protein content of 24.80% for brown beans was also found higher than white varieties 23.40%. Potassium value was found to be the highest of the minerals analyzed while zinc is the lowest. The analysis showed both brown and white beans as being very rich in mineral elements with potassium ranking first with 584 ±2.54 mg/kg and 516 ±2.27 mg/kg followed by calcium with 285.23±3.14 mg/kg and 394.63 ±1.08 mg/kg and magnesium 257.54 ± 1.67 mg/kg and 257.54 ± 1.67 mg/kg for brown and white beans respectively. Other values are sodium (13.05 ± 0.60; 6.30 ± 0.07 mg/kg), iron (12.88 ± 0.91; 4.20 ± 0.57 mg/kg) and zinc (6.30±0.07; 8.20±1.21 mg/kg) for brown and white beans respectively. It is therefore evident from the study that both varieties are very nutritious diet and there is no significant different in the nutritional contents of white and brown varieties of cowpeas. It is therefore recommended that consumers should endeavor to incorporate both varieties in their diet so as to benefit from the variations in nutrients content of both varieties.