Keeping in view the salinity problems in the Northeast region and the inexistence of information of how to use the saline waters appropriately, the objective of this work was to verify the effects of different levels of irrigation water salinity on the productivity of banana (Musa spp.), in the second cycle. A randomized block design was used, with four replications in split-plot. The plots were constituted by three levels of salinity of irrigation water (1.7, 2.8 and 4.0 dS m-1) and the subplot by two varieties of banana (Pacovan - AAB and Marmelo - ABB). Reductions of 21.27, 17.90, 19.67, 5.89, 1.93 and 17.90% were verified, respectively, in the total mass of the bunches, mass of the bunch, mean mass of the fruits, number of bunches per bunch, number of fruits per bunch and productivity, with the increase in the electrical conductivity of the irrigation water from 1.7 to 4.0 dS m-1. The lowest level of salinity of the irrigation water studied (1.7 dS m-1), promoted satisfactory production. The variety Marmelo showed higher productive potential in relationship to Pacovan. The effect of salinity on the cultivars was similar.
banana; electrical conductivity; yield
