Production of parsley in hydroponic conditions under isosmotic brackish nutrient solutions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Brackish waters may vary in their chemical compositions, interfering with different plant responses to stress; therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the production components of parsley plants subjected to levels of electrical conductivity in nutrient solutions with an initial ECns of 1.58 dS m-1, which was solubilized in water with the following water electrical conductivity configurations (ECw): 0.12 (control), 1.12, 2.12, 3.12, 4.12 and 5.12 dS m-1, resulting in six isosmotic levels (ECns = 1.7, 2.7, 3.7, 4.7, 5.7 and 6.7 dS m-1) in an interaction with four types of salt: NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2 and KCl. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme with five replicates. Two strategies were used to restore the volume consumed by the parsley plants, and the replacement was made with municipal-supply water (ECa = 0.12 dS m-1) in the first strategy and with the respective brackish waters in the second strategy. The total fresh and dry weights of the shoots and roots were evaluated as well as the total dry mass percentage of the shoots and roots. The responses of the plants to the different cationic natures was more evident at the highest levels of electrical conductivity tested, and the use of municipal-supply water to replace the evapotranspired depth mitigated the deleterious effects of salinity. In addition, greater reductions were observed in the fresh and dry mass when the replacement of the volume consumed was with the brackish waters.