In the region of Mossoró, the area planted with pumpkin has increased substantially because of external demand. This study aimed to assess the effect of irrigation with saline water on the concentration N, P, K, Ca and Mg in vegetal tissue of the pumpkin. This experiment was carried out from February to April 2008, under field conditions at the Experimental Farm of UFERSA, Mossoró, RN. The experimental design was in completely randomized block with four replications. The treatments consisted of five levels of irrigation water salinity measured along the cycle (S1=0.66, S2=2.11, S3=3.29, S4= 4.11 and S5=4.38 dS m-1). The nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium contents were evaluated in leaf at four stages (18, 28, 42 and 56 days after germination (DAG) during the crop cycle. The salinity of irrigation water affected the absorption of nutrients by the pumpkin. The highest levels of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium in the leaves of the pumpkin were obtained at the intermediate stage of the crop cycle. The content of nitrogen decreased, while the calcium increased over the crop cycle. Nutrient uptake by the pumpkin crop occurred in the following order: K> N> Ca> P> Mg, scoring a total of 126.5, 72.7, 42.0, 15.5 and 9.7 kg ha-1, the fruits exported about 64.1, 82.8, 73.7, 11.2 and 50.7%, respectively.
Curcubita moscata; plant nutrition; electrical conductivity
