Abstract
ABSTRACT: In two simultaneous experiments, we evaluated the impact of brackish irrigation water and nitrogen (N) fertilization on the production of citrus (scion-rootstock combinations) and its associated gas exchanges. These experiments were conducted at the Campus of Federal University of Campina Grande, Brazil in a protected environment (shade screens on the sides) using drainage lysimeters. Experiment I used a randomized block design (3 replicates), in a 5 × 3 factorial arrangement, corresponding to five water salinity levels (0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4, and 3.0 dS m-1) and three scion-rootstock combinations: RS1- Common Sunki mandarin (TSKC) × Poncirus trifoliata English (TRENG) - 256; RS2- Common Rangpur lime (LCRSTC); and RS3- TSKC × (Rangpur lime (LCR) × P. trifoliata (TR)) - 059; with Mimo do Céu orange as the scion variety. Experiment II used a randomized block design (3 replicates), in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, corresponding to the three scion/rootstock combinations and two nitrogen (N) doses (100 and 200 mg kg-1 of soil). Plants were irrigated with water of 3.0 dS m-1. For both experiments, gas exchanges and mean mass of fruits were evaluated at harvest. Gas exchanges were inhibited in plants under saline stress. Plants grafted with Common Rangpur lime showed greater production potential than did the other genotypes studied, even under brackish water conditions.
Highlights
IntroductionAverage yield is relatively low in Brazil (24.69 t ha-1) compared to in the United States (31.75 t ha-1), South Africa (35.62 t ha-1), and Turkey (40.09 t ha-1) (FAO, 2013)
Brazil is the global leader in the total production of citrus (18 Mt)
This study aimed to evaluate gas exchanges and the mean mass of citrus fruits for scion/rootstock combinations applied with saline water and N fertilizer
Summary
Average yield is relatively low in Brazil (24.69 t ha-1) compared to in the United States (31.75 t ha-1), South Africa (35.62 t ha-1), and Turkey (40.09 t ha-1) (FAO, 2013). This low yield can be attributed to the little use of fundamental technologies (e.g., irrigation), especially in the northeast region of Brazil, which has the lowest yield in the country (14.79 t ha-1), despite being the country‟s second largest orange-producing region (2 Mt) (IBGE, 2013). In order to improve yield in Brazil, irrigation must be expanded, especially in the northeast region, approximately 90% of which is under semiarid conditions. In order for irrigation to be sustainable, alternative strategies must be found for using brackish water
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