Plant height
Pooled data from two years (Fig 1) showed that groundnut height increased significantly by 25% under elevated CO
2 (eCO
2, 550±50 ppm) compared to ambient conditions, followed by eT + eCO
2 (12.4%) and eT (3.8%). The tallest plants (39.4 cm) were recorded with a 1.5X herbicide dose (Imazethapyr 3.75% + Propaquizafop 2.5% ME), similar to 1.0X but superior to 0X and 2X doses. Plants grew taller with C
4 weeds than with C
3 weeds or their combination.
Naidu et al., (2023) noted that C
4 weeds like
Sorghum halepense were less competitive than C
3 weeds like
Euphorbia geniculata under eCO
2. The eCO
2 + 1.5X herbicide combination produced the tallest plants, outperforming other combinations except eCO
2 + 2.0X. Under ambient and eT conditions, plant height increased at 1X but declined at 1.5X and 2X, while under eCO‚ and eT + eCO
2, height increased up to 1.5X before declining at 2X. Other interactions were non-significant.
Geethalakshmi et al., (2017) and
Chander et al., (2023) also reported positive effects of elevated CO
2 and temperature on plant height, leaf area and nodulation in soybean.
Leaf area per plant
Leaf area was significantly influenced by all three factors independently, as well as by climate × herbicide and climate × crop-weed interactions (Fig 1). Maximum leaf area was observed under eCO
2, being 3%, 10% and 26% higher than eT, eT + eCO
2 and aT + aCO
2, respectively.
Laza et al., (2021) found that long-term exposure to eCO
2 (650 ppm) enhanced CO
2 assimilation, transpiration efficiency, biomass and pod yield in peanuts. Leaf area was highest at the 1.5X herbicide rate, 10% greater than no application. C
4 weeds resulted in significantly higher leaf area compared to C
3 weeds or their combination. The interaction effect showed that leaf area with C
4 weeds was highest under eT + eCO
2. Climate × herbicide interactions revealed that the recommended dose increased leaf area over no application, but higher rates were ineffective under aT + aCO
2, eT and eT + eCO
2. Under eCO
2, 1X did not enhance leaf area, but 1.5X and 2X rates achieved maximum leaf area, suggesting higher herbicide rates may be needed for effective weed control und elevated CO
2 and temperature
Varanasi et al. (2016) noted that herbicide efficacy is reduced under high temperature and CO‚ conditions.
Leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD readings)
Chlorophyll content in groundnut leaves was significantly influenced by individual factors and climate × herbicide interactions (Table 1). eCO
2 resulted in the highest SPAD readings (43.3), significantly surpassing other climate variables, while eT recorded the lowest (35.9). Enriched CO
2 increased leaf area, photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content, as reported by
Dey et al., (2017). Similar trends were observed in maize, with eCO
2 showing the highest physiological parameters, comparable to eT + eCO
2. Herbicide application reduced chlorophyll content, with the highest SPAD (41.4) under no herbicide treatment, significantly higher than 1X, 1.5X and 2X rates.
Makarian et al. (2016) also noted high concentrations of herbicide caused a significant decline in leaf chlorophyll content in maize and barley. Chlorophyll content was higher with C
4 weeds (41.1) in comparison to the C
3 weeds or their combination (40.2 and 39.1, respectively). weeds under elevated temperatures revealed that the C
3 weeds compete better in cooler conditions, while C
4 weeds adapt to higher temperatures (
Upasani and Barla, 2018).
Soil Rhizobial population
The
Rhizobium population (CFU/g soil) was significantly influenced by all three factors and due to their interactions (Table 2). eCO
2 increased
Rhizobium colonies by 22%, while eT reduced them by 30% compared to ambient conditions. The combination (eT + eCO
2) partially offset this loss, showing an 11% increase. Herbicide application negatively impacted
Rhizobium colonization, with higher rates causing greater declines. Groundnut with C
3 weeds had higher
Rhizobium populations (19.7 CFU/g soil) than with C
4 weeds (16.4 CFU/g soil) or their combination (18.1 CFU/g soil).
Vu et al., (2023) noted that soil microbial populations decreased with increased weed biomass. The highest
Rhizobium population was observed under eCO‚ with C
3 weeds and in treatments with no herbicide application.
Ruan et al., (2023) reported that CO
2 enrichment alone accelerated microbial growth, while combined temperature increases delayed it.
Raghavendra et al. (2017) reported that herbicide application reduced Rhizobium populations in the soil, primarily because many herbicides are directly toxic to these beneficial microorganisms. In addition, herbicides can alter rhizosphere conditions by affecting root exudation, soil microbial balance and nutrient availability, creating a toxic or unfavorable environment for Rhizobium survival and activity.
Nodule number
Nodulation, a key indicator of groundnut’s nitrogen-fixing ability, was significantly influenced by climate variables, herbicide doses, crop-weed competition and their interactions (Table 3). Nodulation increased by 58% under eCO
2 and 39% under eT + eCO
2 compared to ambient conditions but decreased by 23% under eT.
Libault (2014) noted similar trends, with eCO
2 enhancing nodulation and eT reducing it due to soil moisture changes. Growth, nodule dry weight and nitrogenase activity are inversely related to temperature
(Day et al., 1978). Herbicide application reduced nodulation by 7%, 15% and 22% at 1.0X, 1.5X and 2.0X rates, respectively, consistent with
Zaidi et al., (2005). The highest nodulation (440 nodules/plant) was observed under eCO‚ with C
4 weeds and no herbicide application while the lowest was under ambient conditions with 2X herbicide and C
3 weeds. Elevated CO‚ may boost plant growth, but weed competition for resources can affect nodulation outcomes. Climate change modifies plant–herbicide interactions by altering crop physiology, herbicide uptake and effectiveness and weed competitiveness. These changes can either suppress or stimulate nodulation, depending on crop species, environmental conditions and the intensity and type of weed competition
(Burul et al., 2022).
Dry matter production
Dry matter accumulation in groundnut was significantly influenced by climate variables, herbicide doses and their interactions (Fig 1). The highest dry matter (16.9 g/plant) was recorded under eCO
2 (550±50 ppm), followed by eT + eCO
2 (15.8 g/plant), while eT resulted in the lowest (13.2 g/plant). Similar increases in biomass under eCO
2 were reported by
Saha et al., (2012) in pigeon pea and by
Vanaja et al., (2019) and
Guna et al., (2024) in groundnut and black gram, respectively.
Dey et al., (2017) noted a 20.7% and 17.3% increase in photosynthetic rate at 25 and 45 DAS in mung bean under eCO
2, enhancing biomass production. Among herbicide doses, the highest dry matter (15.6 g/plant) was observed at 0X, significantly higher than 1.0X and 2.0X but similar to 1.5X. Interaction effects were non-significant. While herbicides improve growth by reducing weed competition, excessive doses can cause phytotoxicity, reducing productivity
(Galon et al., 2015).