Abstract Atriplex nummularia L. is one of the most studied halophytes in research on phytoremediation of salt-affected soils. However, the optimization of biomass requires studies that indicate the appropriate way to evaluate the photosynthesis. The objective of this study was to investigate the photosynthetic efficiency of A. nummularia irrigated with saline water in order to indicate the best range of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) that should be used. Plants were subjected to daily irrigations (0, 50, 100, 200, 250 and 300 mmol L-1 of NaCl). The light curves were determined at 15 and 84 days applying twenty light intensities (2000, 1750, 1500, 1250, 1000, 750, 500, 250, 200,175, 150, 125, 100, 75, 50, 25, 15, 10, 5, 0 μmol m-2 s-1 PAR). The highest values of photosynthesis rate were observed at PAR of 2000 μmol m-2 s-1 and of 800 μmol m-2 s-1 to 15 and 84 days of evaluation, independent of the NaCl concentration. The present study provides data that support the choice of the ideal PAR in evaluations of gas exchange in A. nummularia.

ABSTRACT Drought and soil salinity are the main abiotic stresses in semiarid regions of the world. This study aims to evaluate the effect of water tensions generated by the reduction of soil moisture and salt on the leaf water potential of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp). The experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design, with a 6 × 2 factorial arrangement consisted of six soil water tensions (0.025, 0.265, 0.485, 0.705, 0.925, and 1.145 MPa) and two tension sources (water deficit and salt), with four replications. Two experiments were performed with the same environmental conditions to evaluate the influence of the tensions on vegetative and reproductive stages. Water and osmotic potentials, relative water content, leaf succulence, and shoot biomass yield were evaluated. Soil water tension was not the main factor of changes on water and osmotic potentials of V. unguiculata plants; the water deficit treatments at soil water tensions of up to 1.145 MPa did not reduce the water and osmotic potentials either at the vegetative or flowering phenological stages; high correlations were found between shoot biomass yield and the leaf water potential at seven days after stress. The osmotic potential was the main indicator of stress in plants at the vegetative and flowering stages subjected to water deficit by the presence of salts in the soil solution.

Com o objetivo de avaliar as alterações químicas de um Neossolo Flúvico do semiárido de Pernambuco cultivado com três cultivares de tomateiro e irrigado com água de dois valores de relação de adsorção de sódio (RAS) e seis de condutividade elétrica (CE) foi realizado um experimento em vasos de polietileno em delineamento em blocos ao acaso com arranjo fatorial 3 x 6 x 2 (três cultivares de tomateiro, seis valores de CE e dois de RAS) e quatro repetições. Os atributos estudados foram: CE, pH e RAS do extrato de saturação do solo, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ e Na+ solúveis em função dos cultivares e da CE e RAS da água de irrigação. Os cultivares de tomateiro estudados não alteraram os atributos CE, pH, RAS, Ca2+, Mg2+ e Na+ do extrato de saturação do solo. O aumento da salinidade da água de irrigação incrementou a CE do extrato de saturação e os teores de Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+ e K+. A água com RAS de 20 (mmol L-1)0,5 promoveu aumento da RAS do extrato de saturação do solo.

Aiming to evaluate chemical changes of a Fluvic Neossol from Pernambuco's semiarid there were cultivated tree tomato cultivars, irrigated with saline water with two values of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and six values of electrical conductivity (EC). The experiment was carried out in polyethylene pots in randomized blocks design with factorial arrangement 3 x 6 x 2 (three tomato cultivars, six values of EC and two SAR) and four replications. The variables studied were: EC, pH, SAR, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ e Na+ of the saturation extract of soil depending on the cultivar and the EC and SAR of irrigation water. The tomato cultivars used in this study did not promote significant changes in the EC, pH, SAR, Ca2+, Mg2+ e Na+ of saturation extracts of soil. Increasing salinity of irrigation water promotes increases in the EC, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+ and K+ of saturation extract of soil. Water with SAR of 20 (mmol L-1)0,5 increased the SAR value of the soil saturation extract.