Growth of cotton genotypes in level of salinity of the irrigation water

Abstract

This experiment was carried on the period of May to November of 1998, at greenhouse, of DEAg/CCT/UFPB, Campina Grande-PB whith the objective study the effect of five levels of salinity of the irrigation water (2,0; 4,0; 6,0; 8,0 and 10,0dS.m^-1 to 25ºC), on the growth of five cotton genotypes (CNPA Precoce 1, CNPA Precoce 2, CNPA 7H, CNPA Acala 93/15 and Embrapa 113-Algodão.7MH) with three replications completely randomized in fatorial 5 x 5. We using material whith a loamy-sand, soil texture, previonsly classified as saline sodic soil. The following variables were analysed: plant height, leaf and branch number, leaf area, vegetal matter weight. The results indicate to be the sensitive cotton to the salinity in the growth variables, being the weight of the dry mater of branches the variable more affected in all the genotypes. Among the genotypes, cultivar Precoce CNPA 2 the most sensitive to the saline stress, while cultivar Embrapa 113- Algodão.7MH the most tolerant.