Filter mud as growth medium on tomato seedling [Cachaza como sustrato para la producción de plántula de tomate]

In the present research six alternative growth media made of filter mud were evaluated, which suffered biological stabilization processes, alone or mixed with cattle manure and its subsequent use for the production of tomato seedling, in order to promote the use of other materials different from the peat. Research was conducted in three stages: 1) the elaboration of 7 treatments by means of drying, washing and drying, composting and vermicomposting of filter mud, alone or mixed with cattle manure, and treatments peat/perlite-based used as control treatment; 2) treatment characterization (growth media) by means of their physical and chemical properties; 3) seedlings production, recording the development and quality of seedlings. Treatments coming from dried and washed filter mud showed physical characteristics similar to the control treatment. Treatments exposed to a composting process showed variable physical characteristics according to the source material. Treatments coming from the vermicomposting process showed a low porosity and water retention. In general, all treatments showed good chemical conditions. As for seedlings production, the treatment based on dried filter mud showed the highest seedling quality.

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