Interplay of phosphorus doses, cyanobacterial inoculation, and elevated carbon dioxide on yield and phosphorus dynamics in cowpea.

Phosphorus (P) demand is likely to increase especially in legumes to harness greater benefits of nitrogen fixation under elevated CO condition. In the following study, seed yield and seed P uptake in cowpea increased by 26.8% and 20.9%, respectively, under elevated CO level. With an increase in phosphorus dose up to 12 mg kg, seed yield enhanced from 2.6 to 5.4 g plant. P application and cyanobacterial inoculation increased the microbial activity of soil, leading to increased availability of P. Under elevated CO condition, microbial activity, measured as dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase activities showed stimulation. Soil available P also increased under elevated CO condition and was stimulated by both P application and cyanobacterial inoculation. Higher P uptake in elevated CO condition led to lower values of inorganic P in soil. Stepwise regression analysis showed that aboveground P uptake, soil available P, and alkaline phosphatase activity of soil influenced the yield while available P, and organic and inorganic P influenced the aboveground P uptake of the crop. This study revealed that under elevated CO condition, P application and cyanobacterial inoculation facilitated P uptake and yield, mediated through enhanced availability of nutrients, in cowpea crop.