Uso de hidrogel no cultivo da alface submetidas a déficit hídrico

Abstract

In order to evaluate the physiological and production responses of the lettuce culture, cultivated with the use of the hydrogel under water stress, this experiment was conducted in the experimental area of the Agrometeorological Station belonging to the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), in Fortaleza ( 03 ° 44'S, 38 ° 33'W, 19.5 °). The experimental design was randomized blocks (DBC), installed in subdivided plots 4 x 5, with three replications. (1, 2, 3 and 4 days) and the subplot by hydrogel dosages (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g pot-1). For each treatment, 3 pots per block were used, and the experiment consisted of 4 blocks, counting 12 useful plants per treatment with a total of 240 pots. During the experiment, daily electrical conductivity analyzes of irrigation water were performed. The plant growth was evaluated every 10 days by the number of leaves present, leaf size and stem diameter. Leaf analyzes were also carried out, investigating the chlorophyll content present in them with the aid of the SPAD index and their gas exchange through IRGA analysis. At the end of the cycle, the length of the root system was measured as well as the weighing of the root system. The production of fresh and dry phytomass was also analyzed. The data of each variable were submitted to analysis of variance (Anova) and when significant were submitted to the F test, data referring to the hydrogel dosage factor and irrigation intervals were submitted to regression analysis. All variables presented better responses when submitted to the dosage of 4 g of hydrogel, in all evaluations. For the irrigation intervals, all presented better results when combined with the use of the polymer. The use of the hydrogel in the soil, provided a greater efficiency of the water use by the plants, promoted an increase of the rooting rate of the crop, as well as a greater root phytomass.