An Empirical Analysis on Reaction of Seed Produce and Its Components of Red Gram (Cajanus Cajan) to Increased Co2 |

ABSTRACT:

Pigeon pea(Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) is an important grain legume crop of thesemi-arid tropics and is a ma­jor dietary protein source. The extra shortduration cultivar of pigeon pea ICPL 88039 was evaluated at ambient (370|imol/mol) and twice the ambient (700 |imol/mol) concentrations of CO2in open top chambers (OTCs). The results showed that the crop recorded asignificant positive enhanced response for total biomass, fodder yield, grainyield, number of pods and seeds per plant, test weight and HI at elevated CO2.The ANOVA revealed significant dif­ferences in response of the characteristicsto CO2 concentrations. Under elevated CO2 the totalbiomass recorded an improvement of 91.3%, grain yield 150.1%, fodder yield67.1%. The major contributing components for improved grain yield underelevated CO2 were number of pods, number of seeds and test weightwhich recorded an increase of 97.9%, 119.5% and 7.2%, respectively. The cropmaintained a significant positive increase of harvest index (HI) at elevated CO2with an increment of 30.7% over ambient values. This increase in HI was due toits improved pod set and seed yield under enhanced CO2 concentrationthereby emphasizes this crop for sustained food with nutritional security underclimate change scenario.