Agricultural residues as a substrate in the production of eggplant seedlings

Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth variables of eggplants seedlings produced in substrates with different compositions in agricultural residues. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with five treatments and ten replicates, with the following treatments: T0= Bioplant commercial substrate (control); T1= 10% of moinha (dried residue of coffee beans) + 15% of coconut fiber + 5% of eggshell + 70% of commercial substrate; T2= 20% of moinha + 15% of coconut fiber + 5% of eggshell + 60% of commercial substrate; T3= 30% of moinha + 15% of coconut fiber + 5% of eggshell + 50% of commercial substrate; T4= 40% of moinha+ 15% of coconut fiber + 5% of eggshell + 40% of commercial substrate. The evaluated variables were electric conductivity of the substrate, number of leaves, plant height, stem diameter; and fresh and dry biomass of shoot, root, and of the whole plant. Growing doses of moinha provide increased electrical conductivity in substrate. The treatment groups containing increasing proportions of moinha in the substrate composition present the highest values of growth variables in relation to the commercial substrate. Except shoot, root and total dry biomass, the substrate with 10 and 20% of moinha have the highest values of analyzed variables in eggplant seedlings.