Accumulation of macronutrients in cowpea and weeds in competition and under soil water deficit

Fernando Sarmento De Oliveira,Lindomar Maria Da Silveira,Jeferson Luiz Dallabona Dombroski,Claudia Daianny Melo Freitas,Erivanessa Costa Sousa Sarmento,Maiara Pinheiro Da Silva Borges,Daniel Valadão Silva,Matheus Freitas Souza

doi:10.14393/bj-v35n6a2019-42432

Fernando Sarmento De Oliveira, Lindomar Maria Da Silveira + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14393/bj-v35n6a2019-42432

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Abstract

The ability of a plant species to succeed in colonization of agroecosystem depends on its efficiency in the use of growth resources even in deficient conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of competition and water deficit in the soil on the accumulation of macronutrients of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp., Commelina benghalensis L. and Waltheria indica L. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, in randomized block design, with four replications. The treatments were arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial, with the first factor corresponding to types of interaction among species (V. unguiculata + C. benghalensis; V. unguiculata + W. indica; V. unguiculata in monoculture, C. benghalensis in monoculture and W. indica in monoculture), and the second of water regimes (irrigated and water deficit). The water deficit differently affects macronutrient content on the species, with decreased of K, Ca and Mg in cowpea, and N, P, K and Ca in W. indica. For C. benghalensis, the water deficit does not reduce the macronutrient contents on the plant. The competition between plants intensifies the effects of water deficit only on C. benghalensis, with a decreased on the content of all macronutrients studied. Under irrigated conditions, competition between plants was more damaging the weeds compared to cowpea. The C. benghalensis specie, free from interference, has a high potential for nutrient extraction under irrigated and water deficit regimes.

Highlights

The water deficit in soil caused by the “Indian summer” has been one of the main limiting factors for obtaining high productivity, on a regular basis, over the years, influencing almost all the characteristics related to growth and development of cowpea (FREITAS et al, 2014; SOUZA et al, 2017)
The treatments were arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, with the first factor consisting of the types of competition between the evaluated species [V. unguiculata + C. benghalensis (V + C); V. unguiculata + W. indica (V + W); V. unguiculata without competition (V); C. benghalensis without competition (C); and W. indica without competition (W)], and the second of the water regimes
W. indica and C. benghalensis seeds were collected in a same cowpea crop area and submitted to procedures to overcome dormancy

Summary

Introduction

The water deficit in soil caused by the “Indian summer” has been one of the main limiting factors for obtaining high productivity, on a regular basis, over the years, influencing almost all the characteristics related to growth and development of cowpea (FREITAS et al, 2014; SOUZA et al, 2017). Another factor that has contributed to decrease of cowpea productivity is incorrect management of weeds, which can cause up to 90% decreased of crop production (FREITAS et al, 2009). This is due mainly to competition between the cultivated species and the weeds by vegetable growth resources such as water, light, and nutrients (ZANINE; SANTOS, 2004)

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