Elevated carbon dioxide level along with phosphorus application and cyanobacterial inoculation enhances nitrogen fixation and uptake in cowpea crop

Abstract

Climate change, as a result of increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases, influences growth and productivity of leguminous crops. A study was carried out to analyse the impacts of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) and cyanobacterial inoculation on growth, N2 fixation and N availability and uptake in cowpea crop, under different doses of phosphorus. Cowpea crop was grown under ambient (400 µmol mol−1) and elevated (550 ± 20 µmol mol−1) CO2 levels using Free-Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment facility. Elevated CO2 level increased chlorophyll content in leaves, improved nodulation and nitrogen fixation by the crop. Increase in P dose up to 16 mg kg−1 soil enhanced nodule development and N2 fixation under high CO2 condition. Cyanobacterial inoculation increased nodule weight, leghaemoglobin content in nodules and total nitrogenase activity. Although nitrogen concentration in cowpea seeds decreased in high CO2 treatment, higher N uptake was recorded. Under elevated CO2 condition, cyanobacterial inoculation and higher P doses led to enhanced root growth and N2 fixation and availability of soil nitrogen. The study illustrated the synergistic effect of high CO2 and cyanobacterial inoculation in enhancing crop growth and availability of soil N, mediated by biological N2 fixation in cowpea under different levels of P.