CRESCIMENTO E PRODUÇÃO DA ALFACE SOB DIFERENTES REPOSIÇÕES HÍDRICAS E USO DE POLÍMERO HIDRORETENTOR

Abstract

The semi-arid region presents a water shortage, requiring the use of new technologies which aims to increase crop productivity, the use of hydroabsorbents polymers is an alternative that has been used. The lettuce has great economic relevance, since it is among one of the most consumed vegetables in Brazil and worldwide. It is strongly influenced by climatic factors, especially by the availability of water. Because water resources are becoming increasingly scarce, it is necessary to seek better alternatives for the use of it. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), cultivated in protected environment, applying different depth of irrigation and using hydroabsorbent polymers. The experiment was carried out under a greenhouse of the Centro de Ciências Agrarias da Universidade Federal da Paraíba (CCA/UFPB), a randomized block design in the factorial scheme 4 x 2 + 2, was used, corresponding to the following irrigation slides (100%, 80% , 60% of field capacity), and two volumes of water-absorbent polymer (50 and 25 mL) diluted in water at 5g L-1, in addition to two controls without the use of the polymer, using the slides of 100 % and 40% with four blocks. Plant height; head diameter; number of leaves per plant; fresh matter of one plant; production of fresh mass and dry matter of shoot (stem + leaves) were determined. The doses of hydroabsorbent polymer did not influence any of the evaluated traits. The lettuce presented better performance with the depths of irrigation of 100% of field capacity.