Phosphorus ameliorates crop productivity, photosynthetic efficiency, nitrogen-fixation, activities of the enzymes and content of nutraceuticals of Lablab purpureus L.

Hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus L.) serves as a good source of vegetable proteins in human diet. Its seeds and pods contain as much as 20–28% protein. Besides, it contains tyrosinase enzyme, which has potential use in the treatment of hypertension. Phosphorus deficiency causes a serious yield and quality constraint of beans at Aligarh, Western Uttar Pradesh, India. To address the problem, a pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of basal phosphorus application on the agricultural performance of this medicinal legume. The plants were grown in pots containing soil supplied with five levels of phosphorus viz. 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg P kg−1 soil as potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate (KH2PO4). The growth and other physiological attributes, leaf nutrient contents, nodule-nitrogen and leghemoglobin content were studied at 60, 90 and 120 days after sowing (DAS), photosynthesis and other related parameters were measured at 90 DAS and yield and quality attributes were recorded at harvest (150 DAS). Nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrate activities, leaf-N, -P, -K and -Ca contents and nodule-nitrogen and leghemoglobin contents reached the maximum extent at 60 DAS. At 90 and 120 DAS, the values decreased significantly. Chlorophyll content, carotenoids content, and photosynthesis were at maximum level at 90 DAS. At various growth stages, phosphorus application at 75 mg P kg−1 soil resulted in maximum amelioration of most of the parameters studied. It increased the seed-yield by 38.3%, seed-protein content by 14.9% and seed-carbohydrate content by 5.0%, relative to the control. It was concluded that there was a hidden hunger of hyacinth bean for phosphorus owing to soil-phosphorus deficiency that was ameliorated effectively by its basal dressing at 75 mg P kg−1 soil.

Research highlights▶ Basal dressing of phosphorus at 75 mg P kg−1 soil proved the best for all the growth, yield, quality and biochemical attributes. ▶ Phosphorus application improved photosynthesis and its related parameters, activities of enzymes, protein and carbohydate contents of hyacinth bean under phosphorus deficent soil of Aligarh. ▶ Hidden hunger of hyacinth bean for phosphorus owing to soil-phosphorus deficiency was ameliorated effectively by its basal dressing at 75 mg P kg−1 soil. ▶ Leaf-P content could also be used as predictive tool for various physiological and biochemical parameters.