Effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations on growth and yield of blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper)- a rainfed pulse crop

Abstract

The response of blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) to two levels of elevated carbon dioxide (550 and 700 ppm) in terms of growth and yield was investigated and compared with ambient CO2 level (365 ppm) using open-top chambers. The growth parameters viz., length and weight of root and shoot, root:shoot ratio, leaf area and weight significantly increased at 700 ppm CO2 when compared with 550 ppm. The percentage increase in total biomass at 700 and 550 ppm CO2 was 65.4% and 39%, respectively compared to the ambient (chamber) control. The increase in total seed yield at 700 ppm (129%) was due to an increase in number of pods per plant and 100 seed weight, whereas at 550 ppm (88.7%) it was due to an increased number of pods/plant and seeds/pod. The results indicate variable responsive effects at different levels of CO2 emphasizing the pertinence of research on elevated CO2 in various agroecological inhabitations all over the world. The indication of higher responses for root and leaf at initial growth stages at the higher elevated level of CO2 (700 ppm), which leads to better root establishment, achieving early photosynthetic efficiency and also better biomass production, and its improved partitioning can be reckoned as a positive aspect of increasing concentrations of CO2 in atmosphere. The harvest index increased significantly to 35.7 and 38.4% at 550 and 700 ppm, respectively; it is a very important phenomenon in pulses for breaking the yield barrier.