An experiment was conducted at the experimental station of Irrigation and Drainage of the Instituto Federal Baiano, to evaluate the growth variables of the castor bean BRS Energia as a function of salinity of irrigation water in lysimeters. The treatments were constituted of water salinity levels of 0.12; 0.8; 1.6; 2.4; 3.2; 4.0 and 4.8 dS m-1, disposed in a completely randomized design, with three replications and four plants per treatment. Fortnightly from 20 to 80 days after emergence, the growth variables and the absolute and relative growth rates of plant height, stem diameter and leaf area of plants were evaluated. The growth measured by height, stem diameter, leaf area and the rates of absolute and relative growth of each variable, decreased with increase in irrigation water salinity in all periods. The restrictions were in response to increase in soil salinity levels from non saline soil to slightly, moderately and strongly saline soil.
Ricinus communis; water of inferior quality; biodiesel
