Sanitary landfill leachate as a source of nutrients on the initial growth of sunflower plants

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the initial growth of sunflower seedlings under different concentrations of sanitary landfill leachate, considering the feasibility of its use as source of nutrients for agricultural production. Biometric and vigor variables were analyzed through the measurements of collar diameter, shoot height, number of leaves and shoot and root fresh and dry matters, from January to February 2015. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme: five leachate concentrations (0, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg N ha-1) x four harvest periods (14, 21, 25 and 29 days after sowing), with five replicates each containing two plants. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and polynomial regression, and the results of the last harvest (29 DAS) were compared by Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05). The use of sanitary landfill leachate increased all analyzed variables in sunflower plants when compared to the control plants (without leachate), especially in the treatment of 100 kg N ha-1. There was no inhibitory effect of the leachate on the initial growth of sunflower seedlings under adopted experimental conditions.