Saline irrigation water indices in the morphophysiological characteristics of leaf cabbage

Resumo

Collard is a vegetable widely consumed in Brazil. However, the quality and production of this vegetable depend on the supply and quality of water, and water stress and saline can make it impossible to grow. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of morphophysiological characteristics of leaf cabbage cv. Georgia under irrigation levels and saline indices after the first defoliation. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with combinations of electrical conductivities of water and irrigation levels. Plant height, stem diameter and number of leaves were directly affected by combinations of high salinities in irrigation water. On the other hand, the green color index had a higher negative effect caused by the treatments in the first evaluation. For fresh mass, dry mass and leaf area, the T16 treatment presented the highest result (206.67 g; 25.46 g; 3044 cm^-2) respectively, while for water use efficiency, the T3 treatment (22.95 g.L^-1) obtained better results. The conductivities of the water linked to irrigation levels had a direct effect under the morphophysiological characteristics of the cabbage leaf cv. Georgia. 

 Keywords: Brassica oleracea, leafy vegetable, brackish water, irrigation management.