CABBAGE YIELD RESPONSE TO SALINITY OF TRICKLE IRRIGATION WATER

Authors:	J. Beltrão, J. Faria, G. Miguel, P. Chaves, D. Trindade
Keywords:	Cabbage yield, double emitter source, salinity
Abstract: The objective of this work was to study the effect of saline water on the yield of cabbage (Brassica oleracea, cv. capitata), under two plant population density treatments (2 and 4 plants for each dripping point), applying an experimental design known as double emitter source DES. A saline water gradient was created, shown by an electrical conductivity from 0.89 up to 10.98 dS.m^-1. Experiments were carried out in the Campus of Gambelas, University of Algarve, Faro, South Portugal. The results showed: 1 - For lower water salinity levels (from 1 up to 3 dS.m-1), cabbage yield decreased about 40 % at the higher plant population density; on the other hand, for the lower plant density, cabbage yield decreased only about 20 %; 2 - Yield decreased almost linearly with the increase of salinity; however between 1 and 6 dS.m^-1, yield reduction was higher, as well as from 9.6 up to 11 dS.m^-1; 3 – It was also shown that the salinity threshold value was lower than 2 dS.m^-1. Regression lines had r2 values not lower than 0.80.
Full Text (PDF format, 34231 bytes) Citation Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files)