Produção e consumo hídrico da hortelã utilizando águas salobras nos sistemas hidropônicos NFT e Floating

Abstract

The hydroponic cultivation in regions with water scarcity is an alternative to increase the water use efficiency, particularly in areas susceptible to soil salinization and high evapotranspiration. The objective of this work was to evaluate the hydroponic cultivation as an alternative for brackish water utilization in the crop of mint (Mentha piperita L.). Fresh and dry mass of this crop is a rising demand for food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries. Not brackish water and six levels of water salinity (by NaCl dissociation) were evaluated into two different experiments. The structure of the Experiment I was composed by 44 hydroponic plots; each plot with 16 in NFT (Nutrient Technique Film) system. Cultivation in Experiment II was carried out in 25 plots of Floating system (Deep Film Technique) with two plants per plot. The results demonstrated that it is feasible to use brackish water in the hidroponic of mint. The increase of water salinity reduced mint production and its water consumption. Increasing salinity caused a linear decrease in both NFT system and Floating. Leaf and shoot symptoms caused by water salinity were no registered.