Formation of guava seedlings under irrigation with water of different cationic natures and salicylic acid

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate gas exchange, biomass, and quality of guava seedlings as a function of the cationic nature of the water used in irrigation and foliar application of salicylic acid. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in Pombal, PB, Brazil, using a randomized block design, in a 6 × 4 factorial scheme with six cationic compositions of irrigation water [S1 - Control (supply water); S2 - Na+; S3 - Ca2+; S4 - Na++Ca2+; S5 - Mg2+, and S6 - Na++Ca2++Mg2+], associated with four concentrations of salicylic acid (0, 1.3, 2.6, and 3.9 mM), with 3 replicates. Plants in control (S1) were irrigated with water of electrical conductivity (ECw) of 0.3 dS m-1, while in the other treatments were irrigated with different types of water and had an ECw of 4.3 dS m-1, consisting of different cations, in the form of chloride. In the seedling formation phase, guava plants were sensitive to calcic water, which resulted in a marked decrease in their growth. Stomatal conductance, transpiration, and biomass accumulation of guava seedlings were more affected by variation in electrical conductivity than by cationic nature of the water. Salicylic acid at concentrations of 2.9 and 1.9 mM increased stomatal conductance and stem dry biomass, respectively, of guava seedlings. Water with ECw of 4.3 dS m-1 allowed the formation of guava seedlings with acceptable quality for transplanting to the field, regardless of the cationic nature of the water.