Impacts on growth, water relations and nutritional composition of basil plants submitted to irrigation with saline and wastewater

Abstract

The effect of the application of reclaimed water and saline water on physiological parameters in Ocimum basilicum L. plants were studied to evaluate their adaptability to irrigation with saline water, as well as to evaluate the applicability of wastewater as a source for irrigation. Plants of O. basilicum grown under greenhouse conditions were submitted to different irrigation treatments: control (deionized water 3.10–6 dS m−1), deionized water supplemented with 15 mM NaCl (1.70 dS m−1), deionized water supplemented with 30 mM NaCl (2.46 dS m−1) and ozonized reclaimed water (0.709 dS m−1). The results show that reclaimed water did not promote reduction in water potential of leaf. Likewise, growth-related parameters were not affected by the application of this treatment. The analysis of nutrients composition in the vegetal tissues verified a marked effect of the Na + exclusion in the root tissues. It did not happen occurred in the roots with the same proportion as in the foliar tissues. Considering the results, the ozonized reclaimed water (0.709 dS m−1) can be an alternative for irrigation of O. basilicum L., if it is properly managed.