The researchers studied how a herbicide called pendimethalin affected the pod attributes of five types of cowpea plants. They applied the herbicide before and after the plants sprouted, then hand-weeded at different times. They found that the number of pods per plant varied depending on the type of cowpea and the herbicide concentration used. Some plants had longer pods or heavier seeds when treated with pendimethalin, while others did not. Overall, the herbicide had different effects on the pod characteristics of the cowpea plants.