Foliar Application of Zinc Improves Agronomical and Quality Parameters and Biofortification of Cowpea (Vigna sinensis) under Deficit Irrigation

Abstract

Due to climate changes, we encounter irregular and low rainfall. It is important to effectively use groundwater and to select crops that can be grown with deficit irrigation in the summer period. Restricted irrigation reduces water consumption but it may cause losses in terms of yield and quality. Different agronomic practices can be used to minimize these losses. One of these practices is the application of foliar zinc fertilizer. In previous studies, zinc application was found to increase the bioavailability of cowpea grain. In this study, the effects of the application of zinc fertilizer on yield, some yield components, physiological traits, and grain quality characteristics of three different cowpea genotypes (Akkız, Karagöz, and a Local variety) were investigated under full (100%) and deficit (50%) irrigation. The field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block split–split plot design with irrigation rates (100% and 50%) and foliar zinc application (0 and 60 kg ha−1) with three replicates used each season (2020 and 2021 growing seasons of cowpea) in the field crops trial fields of the Aydin Adnan Menderes University, at the Faculty of Agriculture, located in the western region of Turkey. Yield and quality characteristics such as grain yield, some yield components, grain protein content, grain mineral matter content, and grain amino acid content were measured. According to the data obtained, a 40% yield reduction was observed under restricted irrigation in the first year of the study. It was determined that zinc application under restricted irrigation increased the yield by approximately 10%. The second-year results found that the amount of essential amino acids such as histidine, phenylalanine, valine, and lysine increased with the zinc application. This study highlights that deficit irrigation conditions caused stress in the plant and caused losses in the yield and quality. Still, the severity of this stress was reduced by foliar zinc application, and it was determined that it positively affected grain yield and bioavailability in cowpea.