Growth and fiber quality of colored cotton under salinity management strategies

ABSTRACT Using saline water in the agricultural activity has become a reality in several regions of the world. Due to the increase in the demand for fresh water, it is necessary to use cultivation strategies and genotypes tolerant to saline stress to make the production viable. In this context, effects of irrigation management strategies with low-salinity water (0.8 dS m-1) and high-salinity water (9.0 dS m-1) were evaluated, varying the phenological stages of the plants, on the growth and fiber quality of colored cotton. Three cotton cultivars submitted to seven irrigation management strategies were used, constituting a 3 x 7 factorial scheme, in a randomized block design with three replicates, in plots and in protected environment. Saline water irrigation in the vegetative and flowering stages can be used in cotton cultivation with the lowest losses of growth, phytomass accumulation and fiber quality. Saline water application during boll development is detrimental to the growth and quality of cotton fiber. The genotype BRS Topázio is tolerant to water salinity, with better fiber length, regardless of the development stage.