Soil chemical attributes in beet cultivation under different fertigation and salinity managements

Abstract

Aiming to monitor and simulate the effect of the excess of soil salts in a protected environment, the experiment was carried out in a greenhouse located at the Department of Rural Engineering of the Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Campus of Botucatu - SP, from October 2011 to January 2012. The treatments consisted of the combination of two factors: initial soil salinity with 5 levels of electrical conductivity    (S₁ = 1.0; S₃ = 3.0; S₆ = 6.0; S₉ = 9.0; S₁₂ = 12.0 dS m^-1) and two fertigation managements (M₁ = traditional; and        M₂ = with control of the ionic concentration of the soil solution) in beet (Beta vulgaris L) cultivation. The design was a randomized complete block with 4 replications, organized in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme, totaling 40 experimental plots. During the cultivation cycle, the EC, K and pH were monitored in the soil solution. At the end of the cycle, soil analysis and the spatial distribution of EC in the soil profile were performed. The highest levels of soil salinity occurred in the deeper layers of the soil profile, being evidenced in the traditional fertigation management due to the high EC values observed in this treatment. With the help of porous cup extractors, it was possible to monitor the concentration of fertilizers applied via fertigation and to maintain the concentration at pre-established levels throughout the cultivation.