Saline water irrigation managements on growth of ornamental plants

Francisco I. F. Oliveira,Davi R. Oliveira,Wiliana J. F. de Medeiros,Antônia L. R. Neves,Claudivan F. de Lacerda

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v21n11p739-745

Abstract

ABSTRACT Biosaline agriculture is an option for using waters with lower quality. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the growth of ornamental species under irrigation with increasing water salinity levels in two methods of water application. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, in the municipality of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The treatments were distributed in randomized blocks in split plots, with six levels of water salinity in the plots (0.6 - control, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4, 3.0 and 3.6 dS m-1), two methods of water application in the subplots (localized and sprinkler irrigation) and four ornamental species in the sub-subplots (Catharanthus roseus, Allamanda cathartica, Ixora coccinea and Duranta erecta), with four replicates. Increase in irrigation water electrical conductivity reduced the growth of the studied ornamental species. It was not possible to establish an ideal method for irrigation of ornamental species. Effects of non-localized irrigation on leaf growth were more evident in the species C. roseus and D. erecta, which showed higher specific leaf area.

Highlights

IntroductionA.The global market of ornamental species moves 250 to 400 billion dollars every year (Chandler & Sanchez, 2012) and concentrates in the countries of the European Union, United States and Japan
This study aimed to evaluate the growth of ornamental species as a function of irrigation with increasing levels of water salinity and two methods of water application
Increment in irrigation water salinity led to decrease in plant height (PH) (Figures 2A and B)

Summary

Introduction

A.The global market of ornamental species moves 250 to 400 billion dollars every year (Chandler & Sanchez, 2012) and concentrates in the countries of the European Union, United States and Japan. The available quality and quantity and the inefficient use of water leads to concerns in the agricultural sector (Munns, 2002; Singh & Gupta, 2009; Niu et al, 2013). In this context, biosaline agriculture emerges as an alternative for the use of low-quality waters, proposing the utilization of salt-tolerant species, such as ornamental plants (Cassaniti et al, 2009; Álvarez & Sánchez-Blanco, 2014; García-Caparrós et al, 2016). Besides the cultivation of tolerant species, selection of adequate irrigation methods and application of leaching fractions to remove the excess of salts in the root zone allow the use of saline and brackish waters in agriculture (Ayers & Westcot, 1999; Muyen et al, 2011)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion