Miaoya Weng^1,2 , Hongfang Lan^1,2

1 Lishui Lianfengxiang Green Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd, Lishui, 232000, Zhejiang, China
2 Zhejiang Agronomist College, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Soil Biology, 2026, Vol. 17, No. 4   
Received: 30 Jun., 2026    Accepted: 08 Aug., 2026    Published: 20 Aug., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Nitrogen (N) management is a critical factor affecting the productivity, quality, and sustainability of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) production systems. However, excessive or inefficient nitrogen fertilization often results in low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), increased production costs, and environmental risks. This review summarizes the mechanisms of nitrogen uptake, transport, assimilation, and remobilization in cowpea, with emphasis on the interactions between biological nitrogen fixation and external nitrogen inputs. The effects of different fertilization strategies, including conventional nitrogen application, optimized fertilization, organic fertilizer substitution, and integrated nutrient management, on cowpea growth, yield formation, soil nitrogen cycling, and NUE are systematically evaluated. Furthermore, the review discusses approaches for assessing nitrogen efficiency through nitrogen accumulation, translocation, agronomic efficiency, and nitrogen productivity indicators. The roles of rhizosphere microorganisms, soil enzyme activities, and molecular regulation pathways in improving nitrogen acquisition and utilization are also highlighted. A case study approach is presented to explore the optimization of nitrogen management strategies under field conditions. Future perspectives focus on precision nitrogen management, fertigation technologies, microbial regulation, and multi-omics approaches for developing sustainable and efficient cowpea production systems.

Cowpea; Nitrogen use efficiency; Fertilization strategies; Nitrogen cycling; Precision nutrient management