QUALITY OF EGGPLANT FRUIT IRRIGATED WITH BRACKISH WATER UNDER CONTINUOUS DRIP AND PULSE IRRIGATION

Abstract

Due to its medicinal properties and to be a functional food rich in antioxidants, the eggplant vegetable consumption has been increasing. During eggplant cultivation, water and soil management are factors that can influence fruit quality. Therefore, the objective of this work was to analyze the physico-chemical characteristics of the fruit of the eggplant ‘Florida Market’ irrigated with brackish water under continuous drip and pulse irrigation. The experiment was carried out under protected environment in a randomized block design, adopting a 2 x 4 factorial scheme, with five replicates. The treatments consisted of a combination of two forms of application of brackish water: continuous drip and pulses, with four levels of water salinity - ECw (0.3 (control); 1.5; 3.0 and 4.5 dS m^-1). The variables evaluated were: fresh weight of the fruit, total soluble solids content, pH of the pulp, total titratable acidity and the ratio of total soluble solids/total titratable acidity. With the increase in salinity of irrigation water the content of total soluble solids (+3.60%) and total titratable acidity (+9.87%) increased, while the ratio of total soluble solids/total titratable acidity (-4.53%) and fresh fruit mass decreased. The interaction between salinity and the form of water application did not influence the physico-chemical characteristics of the fruit.