Growth and development of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) in response to soil moisture: 2. Resource capture and conversion

A study was conducted in controlled environment glasshouses to investigate the effects of soil moisture on resource capture and conversion of three landraces (DipC, S19-3 and UN from Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland, respectively) of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.). The study was conducted under two soil moisture treatments: an irrigated control and a drought treatment where irrigation was withheld from approximately flowering to final harvest. Drought reduced the mean fractional intercepted radiation (f) from 0.8 to less than 0.7 across landraces. The mean light extinction coefficient (=0.46) was not affected either by landrace or watering regime, while cumulative intercepted radiation (Sci) reduced under drought because of the reduction in f. Drought reduced total transpiration (Ec) only in DipC while it had no effect on the other two landraces. Crops under irrigation extracted most of the water from the top 50 cm of the profile while those under drought extracted water down to 90 cm. The conversion coefficient for intercepted radiation (ɛs; g MJ−1) was reduced by 32%, from 1.51 to 1.02 g MJ−1. Similarly, drought reduced the dry matter/transpired water ratio (εwεw; g kg−1) by 20% from 2.05 to 1.65 g kg−1.