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Cowpea Ecophysiological Responses to Accumulated Water Deficiency during the Reproductive Phase in Northeastern Pará, Brazil

Authors :
Denilson P. Ferreira
Denis P. Sousa
Hildo G. G. C. Nunes
João Vitor N. Pinto
Vivian D. S. Farias
Deborah L. P. Costa
Vandeilson B. Moura
Erika Teixeira
Adriano M. L. Sousa
Hugo A. Pinheiro
Paulo Jorge de O. P. Souza
Source :
Horticulturae, Vol 7, Iss 5, p 116 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is a leguminous species widely cultivated in northern and northeastern Brazil. In the state of Pará, this crop still has low productivity due to several factors, such as low soil fertility and climatic adversity, especially the water deficiency. Therefore, the present study aimed at evaluating the physiological parameters and the productivity of cowpea plants under different water depths. The experiment was conducted in Castanhal/Pará between 2015 and 2016. A randomized block design was applied with six replications and four treatments, represented by the replacement of 100%, 50%, 25% and 0% of the water lost during crop evapotranspiration (ETc), starting from the reproductive stage. The rates of net photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs), leaf transpiration (Eleaf), substomatal CO2 concentration (Ci), leaf temperature (Tleaf) and leaf water potential (Ψw) were determined in four measurements at the R5, R7, R8 and R9 phenological stages. Cowpea was sensitive to the water availability in the soil, showing a significant difference between treatments for physiological variables and productivity. Upon reaching a Ψw equal to −0.88 MPa, the studied variables showed important changes, which allows establishing this value as a threshold for the crop regarding water stress under such experimental conditions. The different water levels in the soil directly influenced productivity for both years, indicating that the proper water supply leads to better crop growth and development, increasing productivity.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
23117524
Volume :
7
Issue :
5
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Horticulturae
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.2f249a3274434ee181a9f59c2f49158b
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7050116