Productivity of Selected African Leafy Vegetables under Varying Water Regimes

African leafy vegetables (ALVs) are nutrient dense and can contribute to crop and dietary diversity, especially in water-stressed environments. However, research on their productivity under limited water availability remains scant. The objective of the study was to evaluate growth, physiology and yield responses of three ALVs (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i>, <i>Corchorus. Olitorius</i> and <i>Amaranthus cruentus</i>) and a reference vegetable (<i>Beta vulgaris</i> var. <i>cicla</i>) to varying water regimes [30%, 60% and 100% of crop water requirement (ET_c)]. Field trials using a randomised complete block design, replicated three times, were conducted over two summer seasons, 2015/16 and 2016/17. Leaf number, plant height, chlorophyll content index (CCI), chlorophyll fluorescence (CF), and yield were measured in situ. For <i>A. cruentus</i> and <i>C. olitorius</i>, water stress (30% ET_c) was shown to produce a lower yield, although leaf number, plant height and chlorophyll content index were unaffected, while for <i>B. vulgaris</i>, leaf number and yield were reduced by water stress. For <i>V. unguiculata,</i> CF, CCI, plant height, leaf number, and yield were not affected by water stress, indicating its suitability for production in water scarce environments. Using 60% ET_c was suitable for the production of <i>A. cruentus, C. olitorius</i> and <i>B. vulgaris</i> var. <i>cicla</i>, whereas 30% ET_c is recommended for <i>V. unguiculata</i>. The yield results of <i>V. unguiculata</i> indicate that it performs better, while the yield of <i>A. cruentus</i> and <i>C. olitorius</i> is comparable to that of <i>B. vulgaris</i> under similar conditions, indicating potential for marginal production.