ABSTRACT
This research evaluated the effects of different salinity levels of irrigation water on the growth of pineapple cv. Smooth Cayenne, during initial stages up to 140 days under greenhouse conditions. The soil utilized in the study was classified as Rhegossol. A randomized block experimental design, consisting of 8 levels of water salinity (electrical conductivity of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 dS.m-1 at 25°C) with 4 replications was adopted. The salinity levels were obtained by adding adequate volumes of NaCl and CaCl2 solutions, maintaining the 7:3 proportion between Na and Ca, respectively. The results obtained show that high levels of salinity in the irrigation water provoked significant reductions in the studied variables (establishment index, leaf emission, leaf area, weights of areal and root parts) with the most drastic effects observed in treatments with salinity levels of irrigation water above 3 dS.m-1.
Key words:
growth; salt tolerance; water quality; Ananas comosus, L