Biochemical quality of cowpea beans grown under water-deficit maintained with hydrogel

Investigations related to the effects of the hydrogel use in a water-deficit conditions on the biochemical composition of the harvested products are scarce. The aim of this study was to verify the influence of hydrogel on the biochemical response of cowpea beans produced under water-deficit in southern Tocantins. The experiment was a randomized complete block design  with  four  replications.  The  treatments  were  obtained  in  a  2x5  factorial  scheme,  being:  two  sources  of  hydrogel  (Hydroplan-EB  HyC  and  Polim-Agri PP) and five concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20kg ha-1). After harvesting,  the  grains  of  cowpea,  BRS  Vinagre  cultivar,  were  ground  and  chemically analyzed. The oil content of the seeds agreed with the reference values.  The  use  of  Polim-Agri  PP  promoted  the  best  levels  of  amino  acids  (0.38mg  g-1)  and  proteins  (243.22mg  g-1)  of  the  grains.  The  carbohydrate  content  of  them  (Ȳ= 81.44mg  g-1)  was  better  using  Hydroplan-EB  HyC,  regardless  of  the  concentration  applied.  The  application  of  6.28kg  ha-1 of Polim-Agri  PP  provided  the  highest  starch  content  (842g  mg-1).  The  use  of  hydrogel  improves  the  biochemical  quality  of  cowpea  beans  produced  under water deficit in southern Tocantins.