Tolerance to salinity of chicory plants grown in hydroponics

Chicory plants, cv. 'Amarelo' and 'Pão de Açúcar', were grown hydroponically under four NaCl concentrations in the nutrient solution to determine its tolerance to salinity. Sowing was made in rows placed 0.05m apart, on a 0.15m deep sand growing bed placed over fibber cement tiles. After emergence, plants were thinned to a plant density of 1,600plants m-2. A standard nutrient solution was used, with the main composition of, in mmol L-1, 13.5 NO3-; 2.5 NH4+; 1.5 H2PO4-; 1.5 SO4--; 7.5 Ca++; 10.0 K+ and 1.5 Mg++. The control (T1) was the standard nutrient solution, without addition of NaCl. Four salinity levels were compared, by adding 0.697 (T2), 1.627 (T3), 2.556 (T4) and 3.485 (T5)g L-1 of NaCl. The nutrient solution was delivered to plants four times a day, in a closed system. A completely split plot randomised experimental design was used, with four replications. Plants were harvested at 31 days after sowing, by cutting the shoot at 0.02m height. Fresh and dry mass of both cultivars decreased linearly by effect of salinity. For similar values of electrical conductivity, the decrease in fresh mass was stronger in plants of the Amarelo cultivar. Adding NaCl to the nutrient solution is a technique that may be used to reduce the water content of chicory plants grown hydroponically.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Andriolo,Jerônimo Luiz, Madalóz,José Carlos Cazarotto, Godoi,Rodrigo dos Santos, Janisch,Djeimi Isabel, Barros,Cláudia Alessandra Peixoto de
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Universidade Federal de Santa Maria 2008
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-84782008000400038
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