TY - JOUR 
A1 - Valdés Illán, Raquel
AU - Miralles, J.R.
AU - Ochoa Rego, Jesús
AU - Sánchez Blanco, María Jesús
AU - Bañón Arias, Sebastián del Pilar
T1 - Saline reclaimed wastewater can be used to produce potted weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.) with minimal effects on plant quality
Y1 - 2012
SN - 1695-971X
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10317/5035
AB - The objective of the present study was to investigate the limitations of irrigation with saline reclaimed wastewater
(RW) for producing potted weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.). Furthermore, two different levels of leaching were studied
to ascertain whether either reduces the negative effects of RW. Three irrigation treatments were applied: a) well
water (control), b) RW (5 dS m–1) with a constant leaching fraction of 23% (RWL), and c) RW (5 dS m–1) with a constant
leaching fraction of 15% and 50% flushing every nine irrigation events (RWF). After five months of exposure to
the RW, plant size, leaf area, specific leaf area, plant DW, stem diameter and shoot/root ratio were reduced, but both
compactness and the appearance of the plants remained high. RWF reduced leaf area, plant dry weight, stem diameter,
leaf lightness, leaf chroma and leaf SPAD compared with the RWL. Water consumption per pot was higher in control
(50.58 L), followed by RWL (24.29 L) and RWF (19.6 L). Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were 50% lower
in RWL plants than in the control, while the RWF plants had the lowest rates. RWF caused damages in the photochemical
apparatus. This study confirms that: a) weeping fig is a good candidate for being grown with saline RW
without compromising its aesthetic value; b) RW may be regarded as a good alternative to the retardants used in this
plant; and c) the recommended irrigation would be RWL.
KW - Producción Vegetal
KW - Irrigation
KW - Riego
KW - Ornamental plant
KW - Planta ornamental
KW - Pot plant
KW - Planta de maceta
KW - Salinity
KW - Salinidad
LA - eng
PB - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)
ER -