Growth and Quality of Yellow Passion Fruit Seedlings Produced under Different Irrigation Depths

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of irrigation depths on growth and quality of yellow passion fruit seedlings produced in containers. The experiment was carried out under a greenhouse in individualized environments, with 2.20 m long and 1.10 m wide, isolated by transparent plastic canvas on the sides. The treatments consisted in the application of six daily irrigation depths, corresponding to 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm d-1 for the production of yellow passion fruit seedlings. The experimental analysis was used completely randomized design (CRD), where each treatment was composed of 48 plants, all useful, totalizing in the experiment 288 seedlings. Results showed that depths of 8 mm d-1 was more suitable for the formation of yellow passion fruit seedlings in containers, with higher water economy, obtaining similar growth and quality observed with depths of 10 and 12 mm d-1, which maximized the evaluated characteristics. Depths of 8, 10 and 12 mm d-1 presented Dickson quality index above 0.26 and, the best ratio between shoot dry weight and root system dry weight which should be 2.2 to 2.4 to characterize a quality seedling.