Efeitos de diferentes lâminas e teores de sais na água de irrigação sobre o desenvolvimento e produção da berinjela

Abstract

Consumption of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) (Solanaceae) has increased during the latest years due to its medicinal properties. Both the quality of irrigation water and the need to increase production have become one of the most discussed topics in the last few years. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of different depths and salt concentrations in the irrigation water on growth and yield of eggplant (“Ciça” hybrid). The bioassay was carried out under greenhouse conditions in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Randomized blocks using a 4 x 4 factorial design [different levels of water electrical conductivity (0.18, 1.5, 3.5 and 5.5 dS m-1) x class A evaporation pan coefficients (0.25, 0.45, 0.65 and 0.85)] were used. Plants were grown in pots containing 20 L of soil, using 0.6m spacing between plants and 1.0 m between rows. The increase in water salinity affected negatively both growth and yield of the eggplant crop. The highest class A evaporation pan coefficient (0.85) yielded the best eggplant production. Increases in salinity of irrigation water caused losses that ranged from 30% to 54% in the commercial production of the eggplant crop.