Polímero hidroretentor na produção de mudas de maracujazeiro amarelo sob déficit hídrico

Abstract

Water deficit is one of the main limiting factors for the production of passion fruit seedlings (Passiflora edulis), especially in semiarid regions. The use of water-retaining polymers, such as hydrogel, emerges as a promising alternative to reduce the effects of water scarcity, optimizing water retention in the substrate and favoring the initial development of plants. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses and application methods of hydrogel on the growth of seedlings of the BRS Gigante Amarelo cultivar. The experiment was conducted in a factorial design, with hydrogel doses of 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 g applied in two ways: mixed with the substrate or placed at the bottom of the hole. The evaluated variables were plant height, stem diameter, root length, number of leaves, fresh mass and dry mass. The results demonstrated that intermediate hydrogel doses, between 12 and 24 g, promoted a better balance between shoot and root growth, in addition to greater biomass accumulation, indicating a positive response of seedlings to the use of the polymer. On the other hand, the highest dose (48 g) significantly reduced plant height and leaf number, suggesting a negative effect of excessive hydrogel on initial development. The application of hydrogel at moderate doses constitutes an efficient and sustainable strategy for the production passion fruit seedlings under water deficit conditions.