The scarcity of good quality water has led to the necessity of using wastewater for irrigation in the semi-arid region of Brazil. This greenhouse experiment was carried out in the Universidade Federal Rural do SemiÁrido, located in Mossoro-RN, aiming to evaluate the use of wastewater from the reverse osmosis desalination process on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L) production. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three replications. Treatments were arranged in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme: five levels of salinity (1.1, 2.4, 3.6, 4,7 and 5.7 dS m-1) in the nutrient solution (according to the proportions of desalination of the wastewater in the nutrient solution: 0, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%), and two lettuce cultivars: Verônica and Quatro Estações. Seedlings were planted in trays filled with coconut fiber as a substrate and allowed to growth for 24 days under hydroponic conditions, with different levels of salinity in the nutrient solution. The nutrient solution treatments were provided by a continuous flow rate drip irrigation system. Total yield, fresh and dry mater, leaf number, and leaf area were recorded. Plants grew well in all levels of salinity showing that the wastewater from the desalination process can be a source of water for the hydroponic production of lettuce, although production losses increased with salinity (6 to 8% per unit of electrical conductivity), reaching 28-35% for the solution fully based on wastewater. 'Quatro Estações' showed more tolerance to salinity than 'Veronica'.
Lactuca sativa L; greenhouse; water salinity
