Cowpea Response to Phosphorus and Zinc

Abstract

Low grain yield of cowpea is influenced by several production factors, especially inadequate soil fertilization, in particular, phosphorus application. Tropical soils have low phosphorus and zinc levels due to either the source material or the absence of fertilization, which restricts cowpea grain yield; besides of that, zinc deficiency is accentuated with phosphor application. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fertilization with phosphorus and zinc on cowpea yield. Two experiments were conducted, one with ‘BRS Guariba’ cultivar and another with ‘BRS Aracê’ cultivar. Both of them were performed on a medium-texture dystrophic Yellow Latosol (Oxisol), in the city of Magalhães de Almeida, Maranhão state (Brazil), in 2015. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme, using four doses of phosphorus (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg P2O5 ha-1), and four of zinc (0, 2, 4, and 6 kg of Zn ha-1). There was an interaction between these minerals (p<0.01). Maximum grain yields of 1,376 kg ha-1 and 2,165 kg ha-1 were obtained at doses of 118 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 0.9 kg zinc ha-1 for ‘BRS Guariba’, and 120 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 3.1 kg zinc ha-1 for ‘BRS Aracê’, respectively. The production component of greatest influence on grain yield was the number of pods per plant, with average values of 6 and 10 for ‘BRS Guariba’ and ‘BRS Aracê’ cultivars, respectively. The mean correlation coefficient was 0.82 (p < 0.01).

Impact of Agronomic Biofortification with Zinc on the Nutrient Content, Bioactive Compounds, and Antioxidant Capacity of Cowpea Bean (Vigna unguiculata L. Walpers)

“…The average total zinc concentration in cultivated soils is around 65 mg kg −1 and is predominantly taken up as a divalent cation (Zn 2+ ) [4] or bound to an organic acid [6]. As for micronutrients, zinc is an element whose deficiency symptoms are frequently observed in crops grown in tropical soils [7]. In plants, zinc is involved in correct membrane function, photosynthesis, gene expression, and protection against drought and pathogens, as well as in the synthesis of hormones that are involved in plant growth and development [6].…”

“…Increases in the zinc contents of the edible parts of Solanum tuberosum L. [17], Oryza sativa L. [18], Triticum aestivum L. [19], Zea mays L. [20], Allium cepa L. [21], and Carthamus tinctorius L. [22] have also been reported. In addition, a good response of cowpea to zinc fertilization has been reported in Mexico [5], Brazil [7], and Southern Africa [23]. In general, there are few reports on legume biofortification for the Vigna genus, and the results obtained from other works mainly focus on producing biofortified cereals.…”

Compostagem e vermicompostagem como alternativa para tratamento e de destinação de resíduos orgânicos

“…Aos 95 dias, detectou-se a maior concentração deste elemento, sugerindo-se ser o período mais adequado para culturas que necessitam elevadas concentrações. O zinco é um micronutriente com intensa participação nos sistemas enzimáticos que regulam as fases iniciais de crescimento, sendo ainda vital no desenvolvimento das frutas, sementes e sistemas radiculares, na fotossíntese e na proteção das culturas contra o estresse (MELO, 2018). De modo geral, a concentração de zinco (Figura 10) aumentou durante a compostagem e a vermicompostagem.…”

Common Bean Yield and Zinc Use Efficiency in Association with Diazotrophic Bacteria Co-Inoculations

“…Zinc (Zn) is one of the most important micronutrients for all living organisms [7], including plants, humans, and micro-flora [8] and is required throughout their life cycles in small quantities to orchestrate a complete array of physiological functions [9]. Zinc deficiency has frequently been reported in tropical crops [10], concurrently being declared as…”