Published Paper Details:

An open top chamber (OTC) of 4.77 m2 experiment was conducted to study the impact of different elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels (500, 450 and ambient 400 ppm) on the growth and yield of pigeon pea and black gram. The study was conducted on two pulse crops i.e. pigeon pea and black gram in open top chambers (OTC) to study the impact of elevated CO2 levels on its growth performance in comparison to natural climatic conditions. There was positive impact of different elevated CO2 levels on plant growth and yield parameter. The results indicate that under varying levels of increased CO2 had a progressive increase in plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length, pod weight and number of grains per pod. Maximum values were found under 500ppm CO2 level followed by 450 ppm which was significantly higher over ambient 400 ppm and natural conditions. Similarly higher yield attributes were found in pigeon pea and black gram under 500 ppm CO2 level followed by 450ppm CO2, natural conditions & ambient. Highest grain yield (120g plant-1) & straw yield was under 500ppm CO2 followed by 450ppm level, natural condition & ambient (400ppm) in both pigeon pea and black gram. The yield attributes also differed significantly. Thus the findings focussed that increasing the CO2 level up to 500 ppm may be beneficial in terms of increasing the productivity of these pulses in semi-arid regions of Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh.