HIGHLIGHTS:
Water salinity of 4.0 dS m-1 reduced stomatal conductance, crown volume, and the number of fruits of West Indian cherry.
Fertilization with100-100-100% recommendation of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) in-creases the CO2 assimilation rate.
The lowest production per plant was obtained under fertilization with 100-100-120% of the NPK recommendation.
ABSTRACT
The cultivation of West Indian cherry under irrigation with saline water is subjected to harmful effects caused by salt stress. Identifying combinations of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilization can be a strategy to ensure the expansion of irrigated agriculture. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the morphophysiology and production of the West Indian cherry ‘Flor Branca’ as a function of irrigation with waters of different electrical conductivities and fertilization with nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium combinations. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using the randomized block design in a 2 × 10 factorial scheme, corresponding to two values of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (0.6 and 4.0 dS m-1) and ten combinations of fertilization with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K): 80-100-100, 100-100-100, 120-100-100, 140-100-100, 100-80-100, 100-120-100, 100-140-100, 100-100-80, 100-100-120, and 100-100-140% of the NPK recommendation, with three replicates. Irrigation with water of 4.0 dS m-1 negatively affected stomatal conductance, average crown diameter, crown volume, and the number of fruits per plant of West Indian cherry cv. Flor Branca. The combination of 100-100-100% NPK increased transpiration, CO2 assimilation rate, and stomatal conductance at 260 days after transplantation. Although the NPK combination of 80-100-100% increased number of fruits, the highest production per plant was obtained under 100-80-100% NPK, regardless of the electrical conductivity of irrigation water.
Key words:
Malpighia emarginata Sesse & Moc. ex DC.; fertilization management; water scarcity
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
Means followed by different letters indicate significant differences between the electrical conductivity of water by the F test (p ≤ 0.05) (Figure A) and between combinations of NPK fertilization by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05) (Figure B). NPK combination indices indicate: 1 = 80-100-100, 2 = 100-100-100, 3 = 120-100-100, 4 = 140-100-100, 5 = 100-80-100, 6 = 100-120-100, 7 = 100-140-100, 8 = 100-100-80, 9 = 100-100-120, and 10 = 100-100-140% of the NPK recommendation by 
Means followed by different letters indicate significant differences between NPK combinations by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05). NPK combination indices indicate: 1 = 80-100-100, 2 = 100-100-100, 3 = 120-100-100, 4 = 140-100-100. 5 = 100-80-100, 6 = 100-120-100, 7 = 100-140-100, 8 = 100-100-80, 9 = 100-100-120, and 10 = 100-100-140% of the NPK recommendation by 
Means followed by different letters indicate significant difference between NPK combinations by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05). NPK combination indices indicate: 1 = 80-100-100, 2 = 100-100-100, 3 = 120-100-100, 4 = 140-100-100. 5 = 100-80-100. 6 = 100-120-100, 7 = 100-140-100, 8 = 100-100-80, 9 = 100-100-120, and 10 = 100-100-140% of the NPK recommendation by 
Means followed by different letters indicate significant differences between NPK combinations by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05). NPK combination indices indicate: 1 = 80-100-100, 2 = 100-100-100, 3 = 120-100-100, 4 = 140-100-100, 5 = 100-80-100, 6 = 100-120-100, 7 = 100-140-100, 8 = 100-100-80, 9 = 100-100-120, and 10 = 100-100-140% of the NPK recommendation by 
Means followed by different letters indicate significant differences between electrical conductivity of water by the F test (p ≤ 0.05) (Figure A) and between combinations of NPK fertilization by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05) (Figure B). NPK combination indices indicate: 1 = 80-100-100, 2 = 100-100-100, 3 = 120-100-100, 4 = 140-100-100, 5 = 100-80-100, 6 = 100-120-100, 7 = 100-140-100, 8 = 100-100-80, 9 = 100-100-120, and 10 = 100-100-140% of the NPK recommendation by 
Means followed by different letters indicate significant differences between electrical conductivity of water by the F test (p ≤ 0.05) (Figure A) and between combinations of NPK fertilization by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05) (Figure B). NPK combination indices indicate: 1 = 80-100-100, 2 = 100-100-100, 3 = 120-100-100, 4 = 140-100-100, 5 = 100-80-100, 6 = 100-120-100, 7 = 100-140-100, 8 = 100-100-80, 9 = 100-100-120, and 10 = 100-100-140% of the NPK recommendation by 
Means followed by different letters indicate significant differences between NPK combinations by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05). NPK combination indices indicate: 1 = 80-100-100, 2 = 100-100-100, 3 = 120-100-100, 4 = 140-100-100, 5 = 100-80-100, 6 = 100-120-100, 7 = 100-140-100, 8 = 100-100-80, 9 = 100-100-120, and 10 = 100-100-140% of the NPK recommendation by 
Means followed by different letters indicate significant differences between electrical conductivity of water by the F test (p ≤ 0.05) (Figure A) and between combinations of NPK fertilization by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05) (Figure B). NPK combination indices indicate: 1 = 80-100-100, 2 = 100-100-100, 3 = 120-100-100, 4 = 140-100-100, 5 = 100-80-100, 6 = 100-120-100, 7 = 100-140-100, 8 = 100-100-80, 9 = 100-100-120, and 10 = 100-100-140% of the NPK recommendation by