WATER NEEDS OF THE YELLOW PASSION FRUIT IN SALT STRESS, BIOFERTILIZATION AND SOIL COVER

An experiment was carried out at Remigio, State of Paraiba, Brazil, to assess the water requirements of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Degener) from transplanting to fruiting irrigated with water without restriction salinity (0.5 dS m(-1)) and saline (4.5 dS m(-1)) in substrate with and without biofertilizer, with and without mulch. The experimental design was randomized blocks in factorial design 2(3), with three replications and three plants in lysimeters with 130 dm(3) of substrate. In relation to witnesses, the use of organic raw material and the cover was reduced by 11.2% and 4.5% in water consumption of plants irrigated with water without restriction salinity and saline, respectively. In non-saline water interaction biofertilizer x mulch, plant water consumption to 2.76 mm day(-1) in apical vegetative growth, 4.97 mm day(-1) in growth and production of side branches and 5.65 mm day(-1) on flowering and fruiting. In the periods of growth and production of side branches, flowering and fruiting, the water consumption of witnesses with water without restriction salinity are higher by 18.4% and 7.7%, respectively, of control plants irrigated with saline water. The electrical conductivity of the leached solution is enhanced by the use of saline water and the treatment without mulch. Plants irrigated with saline water present crop coefficients lower than those irrigated with water without restriction salinity.