Salinity and flow rates of nutrient solution on cauliflower biometrics in NFT hydroponic system

The use of brackish water in hydroponic crops represents an alternative for vegetable production. In this context, two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of using brackish water to prepare the nutrient solution and replace the evapotranspired depth, applied at different flow rates, on cauliflower biometrics in NFT (nutrient film technique) hydroponic system. In both experiments, the experimental design was completely randomized with four repetitions, in a 6 x 2 factorial scheme: six levels of water electrical conductivity (ECw) in interaction with two flow rates of nutrient solution application in the hydroponic channels (1.5 and 2.5 L min-1). In Experiment I, brackish waters with different EC (1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 dS m-1), obtained by the addition of NaCl in public-supply water (0.2 dS m-1), were used. In Experiment II, the chemical characteristics of brackish waters collected in the semiarid region of Pernambuco were simulated, with EC of 1.67, 3.30, 4.71, 5.88 and 13.84 dS m-1, plus the control (0.2 dS m-1). Increasing salinity reduced cauliflower growth. Flow rate of 1.5 L min-1 promoted the best results of shoot fresh and dry masses, leaf area, number of leaves, plant height and shoot diameter. The best water for cauliflower production was publicsupply water and, among the well waters, the best was the calcium sulfate-rich water with EC of 1.67 dS m-1.