Crescimento da cultura da rúcula sob diferentes substratos e níveis de água salina

Abstract

Arugula is a leafy vegetable belonging to the family Brassicaceae, fast growing vegetative and short cycle, widely accepted worldwide. In Brazil, its production and consumption are prominent in the South, Southeast and Northeast, generating employment and income for family agriculture. The use of saline water in the production of vegetables is one of the main challenges of researchers and rural producers, since saline stress is one of the biggest abiotic problems that causes a decrease in the production and yield of crops. In view of this assertion, the objective was to evaluate the growth of the arugula culture under different substrates and saline water levels. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at the experimental area of the Agricultural Sciences Center of the Federal University of Alagoas, in the city of Rio Largo, AL. The treatments consisted of three substrates (SUB1 = soil, SUB2 = earthworm humus + sand + soil, SUB3 = filter cake + sand + soil) and five water levels (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 dS m-1) with four replicates. The variety of arugula used was the APRECIATTA Folha Larga. At 12 DAS the thinning was done leaving only one plant per pot. The following growth indices were evaluated: Plant height (AP), number of leaves (NF), leaf area (AF), dry shoot mass (MSPA) and fresh shoot mass (MFPA) at 40 DAT. To obtain fresh matter of the aerial part the plants were weighed in a digital scale. After obtaining the fresh weight, the plants were placed in paper bags, identified and taken to drying in a forced air oven at 65ºC for 72 h. After this period, the samples were weighed for the determination of dry mass. The APRECIATTA arugula variety was tolerant to 1.5 dS m-1 and with the increase in the electrical conductivity of the water caused a reduction in all growth rates, presenting a varied effect according to the type of substrate used. Substrates with higher organic matter content decreased the effects of salinity. However, they had no commercial standard in conductivities greater than 2.5 dS m-1.