Initial growth responses of blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) under elevated CO 2 and moisture stress (original) (raw)

A study was conducted with two important rainfed food crops viz., sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.) and blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Happer) and two oil seed crops viz., sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under two conditions viz., elevated CO 2 (600 ppm) and ambient CO 2 (365 ppm) in open top chambers (OTCs). The observations were recorded at the vegetative stage at 7, 14, 21 and 30 days after sowing (DAS). The results showed significant differences between crops, conditions and time intervals, as well as the single and double order interactions for all the characters studied viz., total dry weight, stem dry weight, root dry weight, leaf dry weight, shoot length, root length and leaf area. Total dry weight and its components viz., stem dry weight, root dry weight and leaf dry weight along with leaf area showed a significant increase under enhanced CO 2 conditions. Among the four crops studied the overall results showed the highest response to elevated CO 2 by blackgram while the lowest response by sorghum.