Growth, water consumption and basil production in the hydroponic system under salinity

Abstract

In irrigated crops, salinity is the main cause of the reduction of growth and productivity, with damage of the variability according to the sensitivity of the crop. The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth, water consumption and production of basil cv. Toscano Folha de Alface under saline stress, in different frequencies of recirculation of the nutritive solution and hydroponic systems. The experimental design was a completely randomized design, in a factorial scheme 3 x 2 + 1, where the first factor represents the concentrations of NaCl (0, 40 and 80 mmol L^-1) and the second factor the recirculation frequencies of the nutrient solution (4 or 6 hours) in a deep flow hydroponic system (DFT), and an additional treatment with nutrient solution in hydroponic laminar flow system (NFT). The water consumption, growth variables and phytomass production and growth rates were evaluated. Reducing the frequency of recirculation of the nutrient solution to six hours does not cause significant reductions in water consumption, growth, phytomass production and absolute growth rate of basil. The water consumption, growth, phytomass production and the absolute growth rate of basil reduced with the use of saline nutrient solution, 40 and 80 mmol L^-1 NaCl. The choice of the DFT or NFT hydroponic system does not cause significant changes in the variables analyzed in basil, under the conditions studied.