The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of four irrigation levels on the water use efficiency (WUE) of the yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Deg.), combined with different potassium doses applied by drip fertirrigation. The experiment was conducted at Fazenda Areão of ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil (22º42'30"S and 47º 38' 00'' W). The irrigation levels were established with average water consumption in the four lysimeters (L), equivalent to 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 e 1.00 of L, respectively. The K2O doses (kg plant-1 year-1) were: 0 (K0), 0.225 (K1), 0.450 (K2), 0.675 (K3) e 0.900 (K4). The WUE was determinated by relation between the of commercial yield (CY) of passion fruit for different potassium doses and water levels (V). The highest (34.05 kg ha-1 L-1) and lowest (7.85 kg ha-1 L-1) values of WUE by passion fruit were verified in the respective lower and higher water volume applied. The increase of water applied in passion fruit reduced the WUE, and the simple increase of yield as a function of amount of water applied did not optimized the water. The WUE by yellow passion fruit increased with the elevation of potassium doses applied through fertirrigation.
Passiflora edulis; fertirrigation management; drip irrigation
