Growth and yield of beet irrigated with saline water in different types of vegetable mulching¹

Crescimento e produção de beterraba irrigada com água salina em diferentes tipos de cobertura vegetal

HIGHLIGHTS:

Irrigation with saline water negatively limited all growth parameters of the beet crop.

Vegetable coverings (rice hulls, carnauba bagana, and crop residues) reduce the harmful effects of salts on beet growth.

The salinity of irrigation water increases soluble solids in beet crop.

ABSTRACT

Vegetal mulching can mitigate the harmful effects of salts present in irrigation water. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of irrigation water salinity and mulching on the growth and yield of beet crops. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at Redenção, Ceará State. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2 × 4 factorial scheme, with five replicates, composed of two levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water - ECw: tap water - 0.3 dS m^-1 and saline solution - 5.8 dS m^-1; and four types of mulching (rice hulls, carnauba bagana, crop residues, and a control treatment without soil cover). The use of vegetal mulching, mitigated the effects of irrigation with saline water on the variables plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, and tuberous root. The increase of the salt concentration in irrigation water negatively affected the number of leaves, length of the tuberous root, and yield. But, it increased the soluble solids in the beet crop.

Key words:
Beta vulgaris; soil protection; salt stress