Growth of colored cotton irrigated with different salinity levels of irrigation water

Abstract

The present study was carried out with the objective of verifying the response of the growth variables of colored cotton, irrigated with different types and levels of salinity of irrigation water. A completely randomized experimental design with six levels (2.0, 3.5, 5.0, 6.5, 8.0 and 9.5 dS m^-1) and two types of irrigation water (equivalent proportions of 9.5:0.5 and 6.0:4.0 between Na:Ca in chloride forms) and 3 replications. The growth variables (plant height, dry weight, number of leaves, leaf area and dry weight of shoot, root and total) were evaluated. It was concluded that the saline stress interfered linearly with reduction of 5.92 and 1.65% for unitary increase of ECw, for the variables plant height and diameter, respectively. The number of leaves and leaf area the upland colored cotton were not affected by water salinity upto 3.50 and 3.58, dS m^-1 electrical conductivity without causing decrease.

Key words:
Gossypium hirsutum; plant physiology; saline stress