Growth and mineral nutrition of Euterpe oleracea and Euterpe edulis under saline irrigation

Salinity is an important abiotic stress that affects plant growth and mineral nutrition, particularly in irrigated systems where the use of lower-quality water may be unavoidable. This study evaluated the effects of saline irrigation on the growth and mineral composition of young plants of two Euterpe species, Euterpe oleracea Mart. and Euterpe edulis Mart., cultivated under greenhouse conditions. The experiment followed a randomized block design in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, with five levels of irrigation water salinity (0.1, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0 dS m−1) and two species, with four replications. Growth variables and mineral composition of plant tissues were evaluated after treatment application. Increasing salinity reduced most growth parameters, including leaf area, biomass accumulation, and root development, while plant height showed lower sensitivity. Salinity also altered plant mineral composition, increasing Na concentration and affecting the balance of essential nutrients such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S. Differences between species were observed, with Euterpe oleracea showing greater vegetative growth and higher shoot Cu and Zn accumulation, whereas Euterpe edulis showed higher shoot N accumulation. These results indicate that saline irrigation impairs growth and mineral nutrition in Euterpe species, although the magnitude of these effects varies between species.