Polímero hidrorretentor em cafeeiros jovens cultivados em diferentes níveis de irrigação

Abstract

With the present study, we aimed at evaluating the use of hydrophilic polymer (hydrogel) in the growth and initial development of coffee plants, irrigated at different levels, in soil with clayey texture. A random blocks experimental design was used, in a 4x2 factorial scheme with three replicates, totaling in 24 experimental plots. The experiment was installed in a greenhouse in the coffee sector of the Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), using four irrigation levels (25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of soil moisture), and the use or not of the hydrophilic polymer (dilution of 1.5 kg in 400 liters of water, applied to the dose of 1.5 liters per pot). The following characteristics were evaluated: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, shoot and root dry mass, volume and area of the roots, by means of the zafira program, physiological analyses and leaf anatomy. The irrigation presented beneficial results for coffee plants, as did the use of the hydrophilic polymer. Irrigation levels near field capacity and the use of the hydrophilic polymer causes higher development and initial growth of the plants, and improves their physiological reactions and anatomic structures.