Cultivation of chicory under nutrient solutions prepared in brackish waters and applied at different temperatures¹

Cultivo do almeirão sob soluções nutritivas preparadas em águas salobras e aplicadas em diferentes temperaturas

HIGHLIGHTS:

Salinity affected leaf characteristics, but to a lesser degree under nutrient solution in a tempera-ture range of 25 to 30 °C.

Damage caused by salinity on cell membranes was attenuated by cooling the nutrient solution.

Cooling the nutrient solution (25-30 °C) increased by 32.61% the production of chicory compared to the ambient temperature.

ABSTRACT

The cooling of nutrient solutions prepared in brackish water can have several implications for plants grown in hydroponics. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of temperature and salinity stresses in the root zone on the growth, water status, production, and leaf characteristics of chicory cultivar Folha Larga, exposed to four values of electrical conductivity of nutrient solution - ECns (1.7, 3.2, 4.7, and 6.2 dS m^-1), applied at two temperatures (ambient temperature and controlled in the range between 25-30 °C). The randomized block design arranged in a 4 × 2 factorial scheme with four replications was used. Cooling nutrient solution mitigated effects of salinity on stem height and diameter, number of leaves, and leaf area of chicory; provided greater production and water consumption, stability into root-shoot relationships, and membrane integrity within the saline range studied (1.7 to 6.2 dS m^-1).

Key words:
Cichorium intybus L.; soilless cultivation; salinity; cooling