WATER OF DIFFERENT CATIONIC NATURE IN PASSION-FRUIT CULTIVATION

The objective was to evaluate the growth, physiology and production of yellow passion-fruit 'BRS Rubi do Cerrado', cultivated with water of different cationic nature in a protected environment. A randomized block design was used, with a control treatment (water supply) and seven different cationic water types (S1 - control; S2 - Na+; S3 - Ca2+; S4 - Mg2+; S5 - Na+ + Ca2+; S6 - Na+ + Mg2+; S7 - Ca2+ + Mg2+ and S8 - Na+ + Ca2+ + Mg2+) and three repetitions, totalizing 24 experimental plots. The control treatment had low electrical conductivity (0.4 dS m-1), and the other treatments had CEa of 3.5 dS m-1 prepared with different cations. The growth of yellow passion-fruit is affected by the variation in the level of electrical conductivity of the water, regardless of the cationic nature of the irrigation water. Moreover, the different cationic nature of the irrigation water did not influence the fluorescence variables of yellow passion-fruit. The increase in water salinity reduced gas exchange, especially stomatal conductance and transpiration in yellow passion-fruit plants at 180 days after transplanting.