Natrum muriaticum COMO MITIGADOR DE ESTRÉS SALINO POR AGUA DE MAR EN Beta vulgaris L. VAR. FORDHOOK GIANT

Abstract

There is scientific evidence in favor of the application of homeopathic medicines as a beneficial alternative to mitigate the negative effects of abiotic stress in agricultural crops. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of Natrum muriaticum (NaM), during the emergence and initial vegetative growth of swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. Fordhook Giant), under saline stress induced seawater. A completely randomized design with factorial arrangement (6A × 3B) and six replications per treatment was used. The factor A was salinity (seawater), measured as a function of electrical conductivity (EC: 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 dS m^-1) and desalinated water with 0.04 dS m^-1 as control (AD). The factor B were two dynamizations of NaM (NaM-7CH, NaM-13CH) and AD as a control (NaM-0CH). The response variables evaluated were the percentage and rate of emergence, and morphometric variables such as radicle length, plant height, fresh and dry biomass of aerial part and radicle. The results showed that NaM-7CH and NaM-13CH, increases the values of all variables evaluated. These results were consistent even in seedlings grown under high EC and suggest that NaM is a potential technological alternative to enable the partial use of seawater in the agriculture.