Abstract
The objective of this work was to evaluate the contribution of efficient nitrogen-fixing rhizobial strains to grain yield of new cowpea cultivars, indicated for cultivation in the Brazilian Semiarid region, in the sub-medium of the São Francisco River Valley. Two experiments were set up at the irrigated perimeters of Mandacaru (Juazeiro, state of Bahia) and Bebedouro (Petrolina, state of Pernambuco). The treatments consisted of single inoculation of five rhizobial strains - BR 3267, BR 3262, INPA 03-11B, UFLA 03-84 (Bradyrhizobiumsp.), and BR 3299T(Microvirga vignae) -, besides a treatment with nitrogen and a control without inoculation or N application. The following cowpea cultivars were evaluated: BRS Pujante, BRS Tapaihum, BRS Carijó, and BRS Acauã. A randomized complete block design, with four replicates, was used. Inoculated plants showed similar grain yield to the one observed with plants fertilized with 80 kg ha-1 N. The cultivars BRS Tapaihum and BRS Pujante stood out in grain yield and protein contents when inoculated, showing their potential for cultivation in the sub-medium of the São Francisco River Valley.
Highlights
Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] has great importance in the Brazilian Semiarid region, especially for small farmers
The objective of this work was to evaluate the contribution of efficient nitrogen‐fixing rhizobial strains to the development and grain yield of new cowpea cultivars, indicated for cultivation in the Brazilian Semiarid region, in the sub‐medium of the São Francisco River Valley
The rhizobial strains were supplied by the Johanna Döbereiner Culture Collection of Diazotrophic Bacteria, from Embrapa Agrobiologia, Seropédica, state of Rio de Janeiro
Summary
Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] has great importance in the Brazilian Semiarid region, especially for small farmers. This crop is mainly cultivated for the production of dry and green beans for human consumption, and it is considered an essential source of proteins, carbohydrates, fibers, vitamins, and minerals for the populations in the Semiarid region of northeastern Brazil (Santos et al, 2008). The rather insignificant productive response of cowpea genotypes to inoculation resulted in low diffusion of the technology among farmers in the Semiarid region. Over the past few years, researches have shown that some rhizobial strains, with high agronomic efficiency, can increase the productivity of cowpea in the region (Almeida et al, 2010; Costa et al, 2011; Fernandes Júnior et al, 2012; Freitas et al, 2012; Ferreira et al, 2013; Alcantara et al, 2014)
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