Effect of short-term waterlogging applied at various growth phases on growth, development and yield in Vigna unguiculata

Abstract

The effects of short-term waterlogging during the vegetative, reproductive and total growth phases were investigated in four cultivars of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) in relation to their controls in a pot experiment conducted at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, in 1989. All cultivars were able to recover completely and produce near to normal yields, when waterlogging was confined to the vegetative period. Recovery growth was affected in cultivars waterlogged during the total growth phase and the plants were significantly smaller (P 0n05) in vegetative dry matter (60-80 % of the size of their respective controls) even at maturity. Recovery growth was affected, to a greater extent, in cultivars possessing a small mainstem : branch ratio. Yield development in the waterlogged plants was affected by accelerated leaf senescence and consequent reduction in the reproductive period. As a result, yields in all the cultivars tested were significantly smaller (P 0n05) than their respective controls and varied between 54 and 60 % of the controls. Plants waterlogged during the reproductive phase were not significantly different (P 0n05) in vegetative dry matter from the controls, but showed root degeneration and accelerated leaf senescence in all but one cultivar (Local Red). Yield reduction, however, was significant (P 0n05) only in IT-83S-898. Possible criteria for selecting plants tolerant to waterlogging are discussed.

The influence of Waterlogging Period on Yield and Yield Components of Mungbean (<i>Vigna radiata</i> L. Wilczek)

“…The other genotypes were less affected and the rate of reduction was about 7% in GK-7, GK-48, IPSA-13, IPSA-15, BARI mung-5 and the lowest was in VC-6173A (3.91%). Similar result in reduction in seed size of waterlogged copwpea cultivars was found by Umaharan et al (1997). The functional relationship (r =0.78) between 1000-seed weight and seed yield plant -1 of 4 days waterlogged plants showed exponential association (Fig.…”

“…The highest percentage of reduction over control treatment in pod plant -1 was recorded in GK-65 (52.94%) followed by GK-7 (46.03%) and the lowest was in BARI mung-5 (13.68%). Umaharan et al (1997) ) showed almost linear and becomes exponential when plant had more than 8.00 pods plant -1 (Fig. 1).…”

Effect of Nitrogen and Potassium on the Root Growth, Nutrient Content and Yield of Mungbean (<i>Vigna radiata<i/> L. Wilczek) under Waterlogged Condition

“…Rapid recovery in root dry weight could be seen after removal of waterlogging. Umaharan et al (1997) found that the root dry weight increased in response to waterlogging during vegetative phase in cowpea. During 10 days recovery period, root dry weight from initial sample was reduced in the treatment T 3 (4-day waterlogged and received 25 kg K ha ).…”

Hydrogen Stable Isotope Analysis of Water Acquisition Ability of Deep Roots and Hydraulic Lift in Sixteen Food Crop Species

“…The soil water potential in the deep layers was around -5 kPa, which is a partly anaerobic condition for some of the species examined, such as common millet, pearl millet, foxtail millet, maize, barley, and oat, according to the criteria of Kono et al (1987) and . Sinha (1980) and Umaharan et al (1997) also observed the negative effects of waterlogging on the shoot and root development of pigeon pea and cowpea. Therefore, the wet soil condition in deep soil should be one of the main causes of species-specifi c responses in terms of water uptake from deep and wet soil under drought in the topsoil layer.…”