Comportamento do alho (Allium sativum L.) sob duas formas de aplicação e diferentes níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação.

Abstract

This research was carríecl out aiming to study the effects of two application ways (AW) and fíve salinity leveis (SL) of the irrigation water on garlic (.Allium sativum L.) growth under greenhouse conditions. The treatments were the combinations of applications ways (AWj = straightly on the soil and AW2 • wetting the plant shoot) and salinity leveis (SL1 = 0.6, SL2 = 1.2, SL3 = 1.8, SL4 - 2.4 and SL5 - 3.0 dS/m at 25°C). The experimental design was in randomized complete blocks with four replications, in I 2 x 9 factorial scheme. Garlic plant growth characteristics were evaluated at four periods» 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after planting. Acordíng to the statistical analysis, there was no interaction between the two studied factors in ali periodsj as well no effect was significant when evaluated at 30 days after planting. Most of plant growth characteristcs were influenced by the AW2 water application way at 120 days after planting, excepted the bulbar ratio and the bulb and root dry matter weights. The salinity leveis begun to decrease the plant growth at 60 days and, with the exception of the bulbar ratio, at 120 days after planting ali of the others growth characteristics were significantly affected as the salt content of the irrigation water enhanced over l,2dS/m. Damages caused both by the application ways at 120 days and by the salinity leveis of the irrigation water at 60 and 90 days after planting were more evident on the aerial portion of the plant than on subterraneous on». However, at 120 days after planting, bulb was the most affected plant part by salinity, which suffered a decreasing of more than 50% in weight and greater than that one observed in diameter.