Effects of salinity and ionic composition of the water irrigation on the development of cowpea plants [Vigna unguiculata(L.)].

O uso de Ãgua de qualidade duvidosa na irrigaÃÃo pode ser prejudicial Ãs plantas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da salinidade e da composiÃÃo quÃmica da Ãgua de irrigaÃÃo sobre o crescimento, as trocas de gasosas, a nutriÃÃo mineral e os teores de solutos orgÃnicos em plantas de feijÃo-de-corda [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cv. PitiÃba. As plantas foram cultivadas em vasos contendo 22 kg de areia lavada, sob condiÃÃes de casa de vegetaÃÃo, e submetidas a 4 diferentes condutividades elÃtricas da Ãgua de irrigaÃÃo (0,5; 1,5; 3,0 4,5 dS m-1), obtidas com sais de NaCl, CaCl2.2H2O e MgCl2.6H2O (A1), com sais de Na2SO4, CaCl2, MgCl2, Na2CO3, NaHCO3 (A2), ou somente com NaCl (A3). O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3 x 4, com 5 repetiÃÃes. Durante a conduÃÃo do experimento mediu-se a taxa de transpiraÃÃo, taxa de fotossÃntese lÃquida, teores de clorofila e a condutÃncia estomÃtica, bem como se analisou a condutividade elÃtrica da Ãgua percolada e do substrato. As plantas foram coletadas com 48 dias apÃs o plantio, medindo-se a Ãrea foliar; e, as massas frescas e secas de folhas, caules e raÃzes. Determinaram-se, em laboratÃrio, nas folhas e caules, os teores de Na+, Cl-, K+, Ca2+, P, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn; nas folhas foram determinados os teores de prolina, proteÃnas, carboidratos e N-aminossolÃveis. A salinidade afetou a produÃÃo de biomassa, o crescimento foliar e as trocas gasosas das plantas, porÃm, com pequena influÃncia da composiÃÃo da Ãgua sobre esses parÃmetros. No entanto, a composiÃÃo iÃnica da Ãgua de irrigaÃÃo influenciou os teores de nutrientes minerais, especialmente sobre os teores de micronutrientes. Por outro lado, nÃo foram observados relacionamentos significativos entre os teores dos solutos orgÃnicos analisados e os nÃveis de salinidade e a composiÃÃo quÃmica da Ãgua. A composiÃÃo quÃmica da Ãgua de irrigaÃÃo à relevante quando se pretende irrigar, pois o aporte de diferentes sais ao solo poderà influenciar especificamente na absorÃÃo de nutrientes minerais, com possÃveis repercussÃes negativas no metabolismo da planta e na sua produtividade.The use of the inadequate water in irrigation can be prejudicial to the plants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of salinity and chemical composition of irrigation water on plant growth, mineral nutrition, gas exchange, and organic solutes contents of cowpea plants [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. Plants were cultivated in plastic pots, using 22 kg of soil at greenhouse conditions and subjected to four different salt stress concentrations (0.5; 1.5; 3.0; and 4.5 dS m-1) in irrigation water. These different salt concentrations were obtained by adding NaCl, CaCl2.2H2O and MgCl2.6H2O (A1), a mixture of chloride, sulphate, carbonates, and bi-carbonates salts (A2), or alone NaCl (A3). A completely randomized design, in a factorial arrangement (3 x 4), with five replicates was adopted. During the experimental period, the following responses were evaluated: transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, chlorophyll contents. After 48 days after sowing they were measured total leaf area and fresh and dry masses of leaves, stems and roots. The contents of inorganic (Na, Cl, K, Ca, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) and organic (proline, protein, carbohydrates e N-amino soluble) solutes were also determined. The salinity of irrigation water caused reduction in the biomass production, leaf growth and gas exchange, but it was not observed effects of the chemical composition of water on these parameters. However, the ionic composition of irrigation water affected the contents of mineral nutrients, especially the contents of micronutrients. On the other hand, it was not found significant relationships between organic solutes contents and the levels of salinity or chemical composition of the water. The results suggest that chemical composition of irrigation water is an important factor, since it could affect mineral nutrients uptake, which can cause negative effects on plant metabolism and productivity