In desalination process, besides the potable water, highly salty and polluted water (brine) is generated, which can be used for producing profitable crops depending on the adequate cultural practices as well as on the plant ability of reacting to saline conditions. The trend in recent years has been towards conversion of conventional agriculture to soilless agriculture which is considered to be a more efficient use of water system. The aim of this research was to examine the response of two lettuce cultivars (Lactuca sativa L. cvs. Veronica, Babá de verão) under hydroponic system to different levels of salinity of the nutrient solutions prepared with tap water, reject from desalination plant, and its dilution with tap water at 75, 50 and 25%, giving a range of electrical conductivities of the nutrient solution (ECs) of 1.1, 2.4, 3.6, 4.7 and 5.7 dS m-1 after the dilutions and fertilizer addition. Genotypic variation for all analysed variables except number of leaves was observed, and the cultivar Babá de verão produced higher yield regardless of salinity level, therefore more tolerant to water salinity with saline rejects.
reverse osmosis; water reuse; plant nutrition
