GROWTH, PRODUCTION AND TOLERANCE OF BROCCOLI IN HYDROPONICS USING BRACKET WATER

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the cultivation of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. itálica, cv. 'Imperial') using brackish water in a hydroponic system. Two experiments, concomitantly, were conducted in a greenhouse, under NFT hydroponics, one with replacement with fresh water and the other with brackish water, between March and June 2022 (autumn-winter). Plants were subjected to four levels of electrical conductivity of water: 0.3 - control without NaCl; 1.75; 3.50; and 5.25 dS m⁻¹ (with NaCl), in a randomized block design with six replications. During the experiments, biometric measurements were carried out on the plants and, at the point of harvest, the vegetative growth of the plants, biometry and production of the inflorescences, as well as their quality, were evaluated. Additionally, the water content in leaves and inflorescences was calculated. The results of the present study suggest that it is possible to cultivate broccoli under an EC of nutrient solution of up to 4.46 dS m⁻¹ in autumn-winter. On the other hand, in the experiment with replacement with brackish water, losses of commercial quality were recorded at the highest saline level. Therefore, the exclusive use of brackish water for EC of 5.25 dS m⁻¹ should be avoided, reserving them only for the preparation of nutrient solutions.