Effects of Elevated Ambient Temperature on Telfairia Occidentallis was Mitigated by Conservative Agriculture: A Demonstration of Global Warming and Adaptation Measures

Abstract

Global warming has recently attracted both local and global attention because it has potential adverse effects on the environment, human health and food security. To better understand the potential effects of climate change on food security, changes in biomass production and composition of pigment induced by variation in ambient temperature were examined in fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentallis), an important vegetable in Nigeria. Ameliorative effect was demonstrated by addition of compost. The plants were grown under a controlled environment (growth chambers): a 10 h photoperiod and ambient temperature ranges of 30-32 ⁰C, 33-35 ⁰C, 36-38 ⁰C and 39-41 ⁰C with two other natural growth units (27-29 ⁰C) as control. The plants were grown under screen house for 95 days. Agronomic parameters such as plant height, root length and plant yield and biochemical components (chlorophyll a and b and carotene) were determined. Results showed that elevated temperature decreased bio-chemical properties by 29 % (at 30–32 ⁰C) and 34 % (at 36-38 ⁰C) for total chlorophyll (Chlorophyll a and b) and 0.6–11 % (at 30-41 ⁰C) for carotene. With organic compost amendments, chlorophyll a and b and carotene levels increased and growth advanced from 219-340.3 cm, 30–65 g and 5–9 g for height, shoot biomass and root biomass respectively. For the control (without compost), the measured parameters decreased. Increasing ambient temperatures adversely affected photosynthetic pigment production thus putting food security at risk while the adverse effect was mitigated by application of compost.

Keywords: chlorophyll a and b, carotene, plant biomass, ambient temperature, climate change, global warming, food security.