This paper deals with the results of an experiment designed to induce symptoms of deficiency of macro and micronutrients in two varieties of "cowpea" extensively grown in the Northeast of Brazil, "dorminhoco" and "pitiúba". As a rule, the results show that visual abnormalities found in the test plants agree with those described in the literature for other beans. It seems, however, that both varieties are less sensitive to the omission of S, Cu, and Mo from the substrate.