Growth and cations accumulation in moringa plants cultivated in saline soils Crescimento e acúmulo de cátions em plantas de moringa mantidas em solos salinos

The aim of this work was to evaluate the salinity effects on growth and dry matter and cations accumulation in moringa plants (Moringa oleifera). The experiment was conducted in completely randomized design, with four treatments, consisting of four soils (electrical conductivity (EC) 0.49 (control), 4.15, 6.33, 10.45 dS m-1) with four replications. Initially the plants were grown in rigid tubes, and 30 days after emergence, were transferred to pots containing 10 kg of soil, according to the salinity treatment. The parameters evaluated were plants height and dry matter and N, K, Ca, Mg and Na accumulation in shoots and roots. The salinity is detrimental to initial plant growth and cation accumulation in shoots and roots plants. Young moringa plants were not effective in inhibiting the absorption of Na and its translocation to the shoot. doi: 10.4336/2012.pfb.32.69.45 Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da salinidade no crescimento e acúmulo de massa seca e cátions em plantas jovens de moringa (Moringa oleifera), testaram-se quatro tipos de solos, nas condutividades elétricas (C.E.) 0,49 (controle), 4,15, 6,33 e 10,45 dS m-1. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repeti es. As plantas cresceram inicialmente em tubetes rígidos e, aos 30 dias após a emergência, foram transferidas para vasos contendo 10 kg de solo, de acordo com o tratamento de salinidade. A salinidade prejudica o crescimento inicial das plantas e acúmulo de cátions na parte aérea e nas raízes das plantas. Na fase inicial de crescimento, as plantas de moringa n o inibem a absor o de Na e sua transloca o para a parte aérea. doi: 10.4336/2012.pfb.32.69.45