Revista Caatinga (Jan 2017)

PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF COWPEA UNDER WATER STRESS AND REWATERING IN NO-TILLAGE AND CONVENTIONAL TILLAGE SYSTEMS

  • RÔMULO MAGNO OLIVEIRA DE FREITAS,
  • JEFERSON LUIZ DALLABONA DOMBROSKI,
  • FRANCISCO CLÁUDIO LOPES DE FREITAS,
  • NARJARA WALESSA NOGUEIRA,
  • JOSÉ RIVANILDO DE SOUZA PINTO

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252017v30n303rc
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 30, no. 3
pp. 559 – 567

Abstract

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The goal of this work was to evaluate the physiological responses of cowpea under water stress and rehydration in conventional and no-tillage systems. We evaluated two crop systems (conventional and no tillage) and three water conditions (no stress, moderate stress and severe stress). The following were determined: leaf area, total dry matter, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, internal CO2 concentration and leaf water potential. Water stress affected all variables evaluated, with the exception of leaf water potential. Cowpea recovered with respect to all variables after rehydration at both stress levels. Stomatal closure is an important drought tolerance mechanism, and cowpea can be considered a conservative species (i.e., one that prioritizes water status maintenance rather than photosynthetic rate). Planting systems did not affect photosynthetic rate. The tillage system promoted greater accumulation of biomass and higher leaf area.