Influencia de intervalo de riego en el establecimiento de balsa (Ochroma pyramidale) en condiciones de secano con la aplicación de hidrogel en el cantón Chone.

Abstract

This research was carried out in the province of Manabí in the Chone canton, on the "San José" farm. The objective was to evaluate different irrigation intervals with the use of hydrogel in the establishment of raft (Ochroma pyramidale). Three irrigation intervals were studied: 15, 30 and 45 days, applying 2 liters of water per plant at each irrigation, in addition, there were three treatments as a control with the same irrigation interval, but without the application of hydrogel. The hydrogel dose was 5 g/preventatively hydrated plant. The raft was established at a distance of 3 x 3 m. The variables plant height, water stress and survival were evaluated every 15 days during the experiment. The results suggest that a shorter irrigation interval has a higher survival regardless of whether or not the plant has hydrogel. However, the hydrogel allowed obtaining a smaller number of plants with water stress and lower mortality. It was also evidenced that plant development is limited probably due to the stress that is reached in the drying season where there are extreme stress conditions. Despite the water stress conditions, the raft plants reached acceptable levels of mortality whenever hydrogel was applied and with an irrigation interval of 15 days.