Peach palm residue compost as substrate for Bactris gasipaes self-sustaining seedlings production

Abstract

<strong>Purpose</strong> To comply with purposes of circular economy and sustainability, as well as promoting an appropriate destination for waste from <em>Bactris gasipaes</em> agro-industry and adding value to this product, we evaluated the compost of the plant residue as substrate for seedlings production.<br /> <strong>Methods</strong> Waste was collected, composted, dried and ground. Compost samples were characterized chemically and physically. The treatments consisted of different proportions of compost and soil (medium commonly used in <em>B. gasipaes</em> seedling nurseries), to make five growth media (v:v composted peach palm:soil): T1 - 100: 0; T2 - 75:25; T3 - 50:50; T4 - 25:75 and T5- 0: 100. After 120 days of planting the peach palm seedlings, morphological parameters were evaluated.<br /> <strong>Results</strong> For the majority of physicochemical properties, T1 showed superior characteristics, i.e. higher water retention capacity (74.19 v/v), higher total porosity (74.78%) as well as higher concentrations of N, P, K (with 2.90 %, 3412.00 g dm^-3 and 7120.00 g dm^-3, respectively) when compared to T5. Likewise, for seedling morphological parameters, the material grown in T1 presented higher height and shoot fresh and dry weight.<br /> <strong>Conclusion</strong> <em>B. gasipaes</em> residue compost shows adequate amounts of macro and micronutrients and physical properties that enable satisfactory development of seedlings from the species, thus promoting a self-sustainable seedling production system.