Morphophysiology of yellow passion fruit seedlings under application of nitrogen and potassium and irrigation with high-salinity water

Abstract

Salinity is one of the most problematic abiotic stresses in agriculture globally, especially in semi-arid regions. Thus, the application of nutrients, such as nitrogen and potassium to improve plant nutritional conditions may be a viable alternative to minimize the negative effects of saline stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the morphophysiological behavior of yellow passion fruit seedlings under varying nitrogen and potassium doses and irrigation with salt water. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a 5 x 5 incomplete factorial scheme, generated from the Central Composite Design with five electrical conductivities of irrigation water (0.5, 0.98, 2.15, 3.32, and 3. 80 dS m-1) and five increasing doses of nitrogen and potassium (0.0, 29.08, 100.0, 170.92, and 200.0%). Leaf, stem, and root dry phytomass and gas exchange were evaluated 75 days after sowing. The increase in salinity had negative effects on the morphological and physiological characteristics of yellow passion fruit seedlings. The application of nitrogen and potassium positively influenced photosynthetic rate and leaf and root dry phytomasses. The application of nitrogen and potassium increased intercellular CO2 concentration and transpiration in yellow passion fruit seedlings under saline stress.