Arabica coffee seedlings production in substrate composed by waste from grains drying process

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the use of “moinha” in the composition of an alternative substrate
for the production of Arabica coffee plants.. The experimental design was a completely randomized
design with five treatments, that was four proportions of “moinha” (10, 20, 30 and 40%
of the volume of the substrate mixed with the soil) and a control substrate (soil and manure
in the proportion of 3:1).. The variables evaluated were: number of leaves, plant height, stem
diameter, shoot and root dry matter, total dry matter and substrate electrical conductivity, all
performed at 180 days after sowing. The increase in the concentration of “moinha” promotes
the increase of electric conductivity in the substrates. Concentrations of up to 30% of “moinha”
in the substrate composition can be used as an alternative to the use of substrate with bovine
manure. However, the concentration of 20% of “moinha” in the substrate composition promotes
the highest values of number of leaves, shoot diameter and root dry matter.