Desenvolvimento de Atriplex nummularia submetida à doses de hidrogel aplicado em solo sódico

Abstract

Among the main forms of recovery of salt affected soils, the use of phytoextractor plants such as Atriplex nummularia becomes an alternative. It is assumed that the hydrogel can maximize the potential for salt phytoextraction by A. nummularia, since the product can retain large amounts of water in the soil. However, studies are still needed to evaluate the influence of hydrogel on the performance of the species. In this work the objective was to submit A. nummularia to a sodium soil with different hydrogel doses, trying to prove the hypothesis that the hydrogel increases the phytoextraction capacity of the species. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at the Federal University of Ceará, lasting 98 days. Plant height and stem diameter were measured, as well as physiological evaluations of the plant with the aid of IRGA (infrared gas analyzer). The results of soil and plant constituent analysis at the end of the experiment revealed that the hydrogel contributed to the increase of plant phytoextractor capacity and consequent reduction of soil electrical conductivity. Another important fact is that the hydrogel was a source of potassium increment in the soil. Hydrogel doses allowed the plant to adapt to salt stress, however there was no significant difference for biometric parameters, except for leaf biomass.