Manejo da irrigação e da salinidade em pimentão cultivado com cobertura morta

Abstract

In arid and semi-arid regions, soil and irrigation water are usually saline, requiring special management for the soil-water-plant system. In this context, two importantaspects are studied: the crop tolerance to salinity and the irrigation management to be adopted. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the irrigation and the salinity management, using mulching and of a Fluvic Neossol cultivated with greenpepper (Capsicum annuum L.). The experiment was carried out in the UFRPE greenhouse, using a completely randomized block design, in a factorial arrangement 2 x 2 x 2, with the following treatments: two irrigation depths (L1=120% of evapotranspiration, L2=80% of evapotranspiration), two irrigation frequencies (r1 day and r2 days) with or without mulching (C and S). The adoption of depth equal to 80% of evapotranspiration, without mulching and the irrigation frequency of two days for the greenpepper in the studied conditions allowed an adequate production, preventing significant difference among the treatments for production. This result is of high importance for semi-arid regions. The use of leaching depth and two days frequency allowed an adequate leaching of salts and greenpepper production. The mulching allowed higher soil moisture at sub-surface, and contributed to the salt leaching process, producing lower average electrical conductivities of the profile, and also enabling the reduction of the total volume of applied water (depth of 80%),without reducing the production.