Exploring the benefits of inoculated cowpeas under different climatic conditions in Namibia
Abstract Cowpeas (Vigna uniculata L. Walp) are grown by many smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa for food and their ability to fix nitrogen even under stress. Their performance depends on the indigenous rhizobial strains that live in symbiotic association with the roots; it can be enhanced if...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38949-2 |
| _version_ | 1797774223592128512 |
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| author | Livia Rasche Joscha N. Becker Percy Chimwamurombe Annette Eschenbach Alexander Gröngröft Jihye Jeong Jona Luther-Mosebach Barbara Reinhold-Hurek Abhijit Sarkar Uwe A. Schneider |
| author_facet | Livia Rasche Joscha N. Becker Percy Chimwamurombe Annette Eschenbach Alexander Gröngröft Jihye Jeong Jona Luther-Mosebach Barbara Reinhold-Hurek Abhijit Sarkar Uwe A. Schneider |
| author_sort | Livia Rasche |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cowpeas (Vigna uniculata L. Walp) are grown by many smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa for food and their ability to fix nitrogen even under stress. Their performance depends on the indigenous rhizobial strains that live in symbiotic association with the roots; it can be enhanced if the seeds are inoculated with more effective ones. Data of the effectiveness of the technique under a variety of climatic conditions is rare. Here, we thus use a model to upscale two field experiments conducted in Namibia to include different climate change scenarios. The simulations show that non-inoculated cowpeas have mean yields of 0.5 t/ha and inoculated cowpeas 1 t/ha. If climatic conditions are favorable (cool and wet), estimated yield differences increase to over 1 t/ha. In dry years (< 200 mm), the average yield difference is only 0.1 t/ha. In the far future (2080–2100), instances of dry and hot years will increase. Using inoculated cowpea seeds instead of non-inoculated ones thus does not benefit farmers as much then as in the near future (2030–2050). In conclusion, using cowpea seeds inoculated with an efficient rhizobial strain can significantly increase yields under varying climatic conditions, but yield advantages decrease markedly in very dry and hot years. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:17:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6fd1ec89d25046b19ddbab06df2bed2b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:17:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-6fd1ec89d25046b19ddbab06df2bed2b2023-07-23T11:14:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-07-0113111010.1038/s41598-023-38949-2Exploring the benefits of inoculated cowpeas under different climatic conditions in NamibiaLivia Rasche0Joscha N. Becker1Percy Chimwamurombe2Annette Eschenbach3Alexander Gröngröft4Jihye Jeong5Jona Luther-Mosebach6Barbara Reinhold-Hurek7Abhijit Sarkar8Uwe A. Schneider9Research Unit Sustainability and Climate Risks, Universität HamburgInstitute of Soil Science, Universität HamburgDepartment of Natural and Applied Sciences, Namibia University of Science and TechnologyInstitute of Soil Science, Universität HamburgInstitute of Soil Science, Universität HamburgResearch Unit Sustainability and Climate Risks, Universität HamburgInstitute of Soil Science, Universität HamburgResearch Group Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, University of BremenResearch Group Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, University of BremenResearch Unit Sustainability and Climate Risks, Universität HamburgAbstract Cowpeas (Vigna uniculata L. Walp) are grown by many smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa for food and their ability to fix nitrogen even under stress. Their performance depends on the indigenous rhizobial strains that live in symbiotic association with the roots; it can be enhanced if the seeds are inoculated with more effective ones. Data of the effectiveness of the technique under a variety of climatic conditions is rare. Here, we thus use a model to upscale two field experiments conducted in Namibia to include different climate change scenarios. The simulations show that non-inoculated cowpeas have mean yields of 0.5 t/ha and inoculated cowpeas 1 t/ha. If climatic conditions are favorable (cool and wet), estimated yield differences increase to over 1 t/ha. In dry years (< 200 mm), the average yield difference is only 0.1 t/ha. In the far future (2080–2100), instances of dry and hot years will increase. Using inoculated cowpea seeds instead of non-inoculated ones thus does not benefit farmers as much then as in the near future (2030–2050). In conclusion, using cowpea seeds inoculated with an efficient rhizobial strain can significantly increase yields under varying climatic conditions, but yield advantages decrease markedly in very dry and hot years.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38949-2 |
| spellingShingle | Livia Rasche Joscha N. Becker Percy Chimwamurombe Annette Eschenbach Alexander Gröngröft Jihye Jeong Jona Luther-Mosebach Barbara Reinhold-Hurek Abhijit Sarkar Uwe A. Schneider Exploring the benefits of inoculated cowpeas under different climatic conditions in Namibia Scientific Reports |
| title | Exploring the benefits of inoculated cowpeas under different climatic conditions in Namibia |
| title_full | Exploring the benefits of inoculated cowpeas under different climatic conditions in Namibia |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the benefits of inoculated cowpeas under different climatic conditions in Namibia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the benefits of inoculated cowpeas under different climatic conditions in Namibia |
| title_short | Exploring the benefits of inoculated cowpeas under different climatic conditions in Namibia |
| title_sort | exploring the benefits of inoculated cowpeas under different climatic conditions in namibia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38949-2 |
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