3rd Edition Of Plant Science and Molecular Biology World Conference 2026

Abstract

The current global warming with its resultant climatic changes being experienced are gradually increasing the salt content of soils, challenging and threatening plant growth, making them to thrive poorly and agricultural practices difficult and costly leading to poor crop yield. Little researches have been done to investigate the response of our common crop plants to salinity and to other ever increasing environmental stress. Therefore, this research was conducted at Hadejia-Jamaare River Basin Irrigation Scheme sites in Auyo and Ayama, Jigawa State, Nigeria, to determine the effect of varying concentrations of Sodium Chloride (NaCl), Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) and Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) with ECe values of 0.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0and5.0dSm-1. These were evaluated on photosynthetic ability and yield of IT97K-452-2, IT04K-332-1, IT98K-503-1, and Dan-Wuri Cowpea varieties. Result revealed that photosynthesis significantly (P≤0.05) decreased with increase in salt and yield of the plants were significantly inhibited at 4.0dSm-1 and 5.0dSm-1. CaCO3 and CaCl2 greatly suppressed photosynthesis and yield. Improved varieties performed better but local varieties thrive poorly. IT97K-452-2 appeared most tolerant and Dan Wuri most susceptible. Yield significantly decreased with increased concentration with 0.0dSm-1 and 2.0dSm-1 producing higher pod and grain yields. It is recommended that screening exercise in respect of salinity tolerance of other varieties of this and other crops should be carried out prior to cultivation for optimum yield and factors responsible for increasing salinity should be studied more and checked to avoid its resulting decrease in photosynthetic ability and yield of crop plants.

Keywords: Salt, Photosynthesis, Cowpea, Concentration, Yield