Water-retaining polymer in okra cultivation under water replacement levels

Trigueiro, Ericlys D. N.; Lima, Geovani S. de; Silva, Saulo S. da; Soares, Lauriane A. dos A.; Fátima, Reynaldo T. de; Almeida, Flávia de S.; Silva, Vitor M. B. da; Gheyi, Hans R.

doi:10.1590/1983-21252026v3914143rc

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Scientific Article • Rev. Caatinga 39 • 2026 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252026v3914143rc linkcopy

Water-retaining polymer in okra cultivation under water replacement levels

Polímero hidroretentor no cultivo de quiabeiro sob níveis de reposição hídrica

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

The cultivation of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] has potential for expansion in Northeastern Brazil. However, irregular precipitation, associated with high evapotranspiration rates, is a limiting factor for agricultural development. In this context, the use of water-retaining polymers stands out as a promising alternative due to their capacity to retain water and ensure favorable conditions for plant growth. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a water-retaining polymer on the growth, production, and fruit quality of okra under different water replacement levels. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at CCTA/UFCG, Pombal Campus, PB, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme, corresponding to five water replacement levels (40, 60, 80, 100, and 120% of the actual evapotranspiration - ETr) and four doses of a water-retaining polymer (0, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g L^-1), with three replications. A water replacement level of 80% ETr resulted in the greatest growth and production of okra cv. Carcará. Both deficit and excess water replacement caused growth inhibition and a decrease in the number of fruits. The application of the water-retaining polymer at a dose of 3.0 g L^-1 had a beneficial effect on the growth, fresh mass, and mean diameter of the fruits, being indicated for okra cultivation in semiarid areas. Irrigation with 40% ETr combined with a 1.3 g L^-1 of the water-retaining polymer increased the ascorbic acid content in the fruits of okra cv. Carcará.

Sources of variation	DF	Mean squares
Sources of variation	DF	PH(cm)	SD(mm)	NL(Unit)	LA(cm²)
Water replacement levels (WRL)	4	1042.3^*	35.62^*	163.90^**	2459487^ns
Linear	1	1300.2^*	24.03^ns	0.83^ns	307^ns
Quadratic	1	1860.0^*	116.71^**	514.50^**	4877226^ns
Water-retaining polymer doses (WPD)	3	822.0^*	36.53^*	7.31^ns	634693^ns
Linear	1	2324.0^**	80.44^**	1.33^ns	1037382^ns
Quadratic	1	2.01^ns	6.16^ns	19.26^ns	1531^ns
Interaction (WRL x WPD)	12	411.5^ns	11.00^ns	27.08^ns	2694900^ns
Block	3	566.5^ns	2.73^ns	60.21^ns	7102390^ns
Error	38	278.3	6.52	26.12	1411701
CV (%)		11.65	12.31	23.63	26.54

Sources of variation	DF	Mean squares
Sources of variation	DF	FFM(g per plant)	TNF(Unit)	MFD(mm)	MFL(mm)	AFW(g per fruit)
Water replacement levels (WRL)	4	29.56^ns	46.05^**	19.85^*	12.52^ns	5.35^**
Linear	1	98.68^ns	7.00^ns	19.56^ns	21.33^ns	0.47^ns
Quadratic	1	5.50^ns	154.29^**	34.73^*	8.56^ns	20.81^**
Water-retaining polymer doses (WPD)	3	50.34^*	7.52^ns	29.42^**	3.32^ns	0.10^ns
Linear	1	70.75^*	5.60^ns	63.41^**	1.42^ns	0.02^ns
Quadratic	1	75.73^*	2.01^ns	22.55^*	7.71^ns	0.23^ns
Interaction (WRL x WPD)	12	13.78^ns	10.62^ns	12.97^ns	5.59^ns	1.80^ns
Block	3	10.43^ns	4.01^ns	1.36^ns	2.65^ns	0.05^ns
Error	38	16.63	4.27	5.42	3.72	1.09
CV (%)		13.97	19.67	34.13	11.29	11.29

Sources of variation	DF	Mean squares
Sources of variation	DF	SS(ºBrix)	TA (% nitric acid)	AA (mg 100g^-1)
Water replacement levels (WRL)	4	0.73^*	0.0059^**	26.55^**
Linear	1	1.24^*	0.0018^ns	88.03^**
Quadratic	1	1.33^*	0.0158^**	2.76^*
Water-retaining polymer doses (WPD)	3	2.31^**	0.0034^**	1.16^ns
Linear	1	5.12^**	0.0064^**	0.73^ns
Quadratic	1	0.26^ns	0.0002^ns	2.74^*
Interaction (WRL x WPD)	12	0.96^ns	0.0040^ns	1.21^*
Block	3	0.03^ns	0.0001^ns	2.37^*
Error	38	0.22	0.0005	0.58
CV (%)		8.44	8.40	11.56

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[1] pH - hydrogen potential, OM - Organic matter (determined by the Walkley-Black method); Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ - Extracted with 1 M KCl at pH 7.0; Na⁺ and K⁺ - Extracted using 1 M NH₄OAc at pH 7.0; Al³⁺+H⁺ - Extracted using 0.5 M Ca(OAc)₂ at pH 7.0; ECe - Electrical conductivity of the saturation extract; CEC - Cation exchange capacity; SARe - Sodium adsorption ratio of the saturation extract; ESP - Exchangeable sodium percentage; ¹ Field capacity; ^²Permanent wilting point.

Chemical characteristics
pH (H₂O) (1:2.5)	OM g kg^-1	P (mg kg^-1)	K⁺	Na⁺	Ca²⁺	Mg²⁺	Al³⁺	H⁺
pH (H₂O) (1:2.5)	OM g kg^-1	P (mg kg^-1)	cmol_c kg^-1
9.0	20.34	180.77	0.50	0.10	7.17	5.11	0.00	0.00
Chemical characteristics				Physical-hydraulic characteristics
EC_e	CEC	SAR_e	ESP	Particle-size fraction (g kg^-1)			Moisture (dag kg^-1)
(dS m^-1)	cmol_c kg^-1	(mmol L^-1)^0.5	%	Sand	Silt	Clay	33.42 kPa¹	1519.5 kPa²
0.67	12.88	0.77	0.78	775.2	182.3	42.5	13.77	5.18