Potassium fertilization and salt stress on beet crop

Abstract

The aim was to evaluate the effect of different doses of potassium in beet crops irrigated with low and high salinity water. The study was conducted in a protected environment, in the Aurora Seedling Production Unit (UPMA), at the University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (Unilab), Redenção-Ceará. The experimental design was completely randomized, with treatments arranged in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme, referring to five doses of potassium (24 g, 48 g, 72 g, 96 g, and 120 g) and two levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (A1 = 0.5 dS m−1 and A2 = 5.8 dS m−1). The following variables were assessed: plant height (PH), number of leaves (NL), leaf area (LA), tuberous root length (TRL), tuberous root diameter (TRD), yield (TRY), and soluble solids (SS). Regardless of potassium doses, high salinity water affects plant height and leaf area between 40 and 60 DAS, while low salinity water has increased them. The applied doses maximized the productivity and the SS of the beet crop, however, more efficient with low salinity water. Besides, potassium fertilization increased the length and diameter of the fruit; however, saline stress negatively affected them.