Quality of tomato seedlings in function of substrate and irrigation with effluent aquaculture wastewater

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of tomato seedlings in three substrates under effluent irrigation farming. The experiment was conducted in the garden of the Department of Plant Sciences, Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid (UFERSA), Mossoró, RN. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 x 2 factorial with four replications and the treatments consisted of combinations of substrate types (Plantmax®, organic compost and washed sand) with irrigation water sources (fish farming wastewater and well water). The evaluation was performed at 24 days after germination, through number of leaves, shoot height, taproot length, and dry masses of shoot and root system. The organic compost and washed sand are the most suitable substrates for the production of tomato seedlings due to a larger number of leaves, plant height and dry weight of shoot and root. The fish farming effluent influences in greater root growth, dry mass of shoots and roots compared to tube well water.