Cowpea Growth and Nitrogen Fixation Performance under Different Mulch Treatments

Florence M. Masete, Lawrence Munjonji, Kingsley K. Ayisi and Moshibudi P. Mopape-Mabapa
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Florence M. Masete: Risk and Vulnerability Science Center, University of Limpopo, P Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa
Lawrence Munjonji: Risk and Vulnerability Science Center, University of Limpopo, P Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa
Kingsley K. Ayisi: Risk and Vulnerability Science Center, University of Limpopo, P Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa
Moshibudi P. Mopape-Mabapa: Department of Plant Production Soil Science and Agriculture Engineering, University of Limpopo, P Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: Mulching is regarded as the most important of the three conservation agriculture principles in increasing crop yield in the short term. Thus, the main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of mulch type and mulch application rate on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), physiological and yield responses of cowpea. A multi-locational (two locations) and multi-seasonal (two seasons) study was carried out under rainfed conditions in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Three mulch types ( Moringa oleifera stems; Moringa oleifera leaves and twigs; and Vachellia karroo leaves and stems) were uniformly spread on the surface at four rates (0, 3, 6, 9 t/ha). The application of mulches, regardless of the rate and type, improved cowpea chlorophyll content and agronomic parameters, such as stem diameter and plant height. Grain yield at Syferkuil responded to the mulching effect in both seasons, while at Ofcolaco, differences were only observed in one of the seasons. Cowpea under control discriminated against 15 N more than under mulched treatments, resulting in more than 70% of the nitrogen being derived from air compared to 50% in mulched plots. This study demonstrated that organic surface mulches improved the physiological responses of cowpea and that organic surface mulches with a lower C:N ratio significantly reduced BNF.

Keywords: biological nitrogen fixation; chlorophyll content; grain yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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