SUPPLEMENTATION OF NUTRIENTS FOR TABLE BEETS BY IRRIGATION WITH TREATED DAIRY EFFLUENT

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional status of table beet plants cultivated in a greenhouse irrigated with treated dairy effluent at different irrigation depths. The experimental design used was a randomized block in a 3 x 3 + 1 factorial arrangement with four replications and conducted in a greenhouse. The treatments consisted of three types of water sources and three irrigation depths applied by drip irrigation: anaerobic effluent; anaerobic/aerobic effluent; tap water, and irrigation for replenishment 50; 100 and 150% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc). All these treatments were applied in combination with 50% of the recommended nitrogen fertilization for the table beet cultivation. A control treatment was irrigated with tap water with irrigation depth equal to 100% ETc and received the complete dose (100%) of mineral nitrogen fertilizer. Table beet seedlings were arranged in 40 fiberglass boxes with a base area of 1 m2. Table beets were harvested 72 days after transplanting (DAT) when the leaves and roots were analyzed. Irrigation with wastewater promoted appropriate levels of macronutrients, distributed between the leaves and roots. The sodium was increased significantly in the leaves and roots of table beets in effluent treatments at increasing irrigation depths, which was antagonistic to the absorption of potassium.