Abstract
Agricultural production in semi-arid regions is limited due to water availability. In addition, the water quality available for irrigation is often compromised due to the high salt content present. Millet is a forage species considered tolerant to water deficit and moderately salt tolerant. In view of the above, the objective was to evaluate the growth of millet under water and saline stress associates. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, in a 4x3 factorial scheme, composed of four levels of water replacement, based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc): 25%.ETc, 50%.ETc, 75%.ETc and 100%.ETc and three levels of water salinity (0.03, 2.0 and 4.0 dS m-1). With 25%.ETc independent of salinity, all morphological characteristics of millet were affected, occurring death of plants in the initial growth phase. In the absence of salt and greater availability of water, greater plant growth occurred. With respect to salinity, there was a reduction in the increment of all variables evaluated, with the highest reduction at the highest saline level (4.0 dS m-1). Water and salt stresses, when associated, reduce the growth of millet, since concentrations above 2.0 dS m-1 and less than 50%.ETc compromise its full development, providing declines in yield.
Highlights
Arid and semi-arid regions cover about a third of the world's territory and are inhabited by around 400 million people
The low availability of water together with the accumulation of salts in the soil caused the death of plants from treatments of 25%.ETc and, the behavior of the other variables was only observed until 35 days after emergence (DAE)
When the salinity of the irrigation water increased to 2.0 dS m-1 and 4.0 dS m-1 there was a gradual reduction in stem diameter from 35 DAE, with a reduction of up to 100% at the end of the cycle (Figure 2b)
Summary
Arid and semi-arid regions cover about a third of the world's territory and are inhabited by around 400 million people. The low availability of water together with the accumulation of salts in the soil caused the death of plants from treatments of 25%.ETc and, the behavior of the other variables was only observed until 35 days after emergence (DAE).
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