Utilization of Agricultural Residues as Alternative Substrates in the Production of Conilon Coffee Seedlings

Abstract

Research related to the use of agricultural residues as alternatives to commercial substrates has become fundamental for reducing the production costs of coffee seedlings. This study aimed to evaluate Conilon coffee seedlings development, produced in tubes, using as substrates different proportions of agricultural residues. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with six treatments and six replications, comprising five treatments with increasing proportions of moinha, decreasing amounts of coconut fiber and pine bark (0/20/50, 10/15/45; 20/10/40, 30/05/35, and 40/0/30%), and fixed proportions of coffee straw (30%) and one treatment with Bioplant commercial substrate (control). Evaluations of the variables were performed at 118 days after sowing (DAS) and consisted of determining the leaf number, plant height, stem diameter, and values of shoot, root, and total plant dry matter. The use of 40% moinha + 30% coffee straw + 30% pine bark is recommended as an alternative to the commercial substrate for the production of Conilon coffee seedlings in tubes.