Desenvolvimento vegetativo e produtividade da alface (Lactuca sativa L.) sob sistemas de irrigação por ascensão capilar e gotejamento

Abstract

The water scarcity characteristic of the northeastern semi-arid region imposes significant challenges on family farming, especially in vegetable cultivation, which requires proper water management to ensure productivity and sustainability. In this context, social technologies emerge as viable alternatives for the rational use of water resources. The present study aimed to evaluate the vegetative development and productivity of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in beds with a capillary rise irrigation system, comparing it to the conventional drip irrigation system, at the School Farm of the Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte, Ipanguaçu Campus. The experiment was conducted in soil classified as Eutrophic Fluvic Neosol, using six beds, three with capillary rise irrigation and three with drip irrigation, over a 45-day cycle. Productive variables such as total fresh mass, number of leaves, plant diameter, leaf area, leaf and root size were evaluated, in addition to the total volume of water applied in each system. The results showed that the drip irrigation system presented slightly higher values for most productive variables; however, it required a water volume approximately 97% greater than the capillary rise system. Despite this difference, the beds with capillary rise achieved productivity very close to that of drip irrigation, with a difference of less than 5% in total fresh mass, demonstrating high efficiency in water use. It is concluded that capillary rise irrigation constitutes a viable and sustainable alternative for lettuce production in semi-arid regions, especially when integrated into productive home gardens within the context of family farming, as it promotes efficient water use, food production for self-consumption, and the strengthening of food security for rural families.