GROWTH RESPONSES OF LEGUME PLANTS TO VARIED LEVELS OF DROUGHT STRESS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
This study investigates the growth responses of legume plants subjected to different levels of drought stress, aiming to understand their adaptive strategies and physiological changes under water scarcity conditions. Legumes play a crucial role in agriculture due to their nitrogen-fixing ability and nutritional value. However, their growth and productivity can be severely affected by drought, which is becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. Through controlled experiments, varying degrees of drought stress were applied, and parameters such as plant height, biomass production, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and water use efficiency were measured. Results indicate significant variations in growth responses across different legume species and cultivars, highlighting their diverse adaptive mechanisms. Understanding these responses is essential for developing strategies to enhance drought tolerance and improve legume resilience in agricultural systems facing water scarcity challenges.