Production of cucumber seedlings in alternative substrates with different agricultural waste compositions

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of residues of coffee bean processing on
the growth variables of cucumber seedlings produced on substrates with different compositions
of agricultural residues in total substitution to the commercial substrate. The experiment
was carried out in a completely randomized design, with 5 treatments and 10 replicates, being:
T1: 0%moinha (MO)+ 40%carbonized rice husk (CRH)+ 15%coconut fiber (CF)+ 5%eggshell
(ES)+ 40%pine bark (PB); T2: 10%MO+ 30%CRH+ 15%FC+ 5%ES+ 40%PB; T3: 20%MO+
20%CRH+ 15%CF+ 5%ES+ 40%PB; T4: 30%MO+ 10%CRH+ 15%CF+ 5%ES+ 40%PB; T5:
40%MO+ 0%CRH+ 15%CF+ 5%ES+ 40%PB. The variables evaluated were: electrical conductivity
of the substrate, plant height, and dry matter of roots and aboveground part. The alternative
substrate containing 40%MO+ 0%CAC+ 15%FC+ 5%CO+ 40%CP provides the highest
values for all growth variables of cucumber seedlings and it can be an alternative to the use of
the commercial substrate.