Production of sunflower under saline water irrigation and nitrogen fertilization

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the  production components of  sunflower Embrapa 122-V2000, as a function of irrigation water salinity and nitrogen doses. The experiment was conducted in plastic pots with a capacity of 100 L under greenhouse conditions in Federal University of Campina Grande, during the period of April-July 2012, in an experimental design adopting factorial arrangement of 5 x 5, with five levels of irrigation water salinity, expressed by electrical conductivity of 0.7, 1.7, 2.7, 3.7 and 4.7 dS m-1 (25°C) and five nitrogen rates of 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mg N kg-1 soil, with three repetitions, totaling 75 experimental units. The evaluated parameters were: total number of achenes, percentage of viable achenes, percentage of biomass of viable achenes, the biomass and diameter of chapter, dry weight of 1000 seeds and production of achenes. Although, the interaction of water salinity and nitrogen levels did not show significant effects on the components of production, increase in the salt content of the water inhibited all the variables while elevation of nitrogen rates stimulated emission of achenes, chapter biomass and production of achenes. Key words: Marginal quality water, productivity, Hellianthus annus L.