THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONILON (Coffea Canephora Pierre) COFFEE PLANTS IN SUBSTRATES CONTAINING DEHYDRATED CURTUME SLUDGE AND SODIUM AND CHROME DOSES

Abstract

The leather industries generate tannery sludge, this residue consists of organic materials of animal origin mixed with inorganic salts, and some of these components present in its composition are nutrients for plants, and can be considered an alternative source of fertilization because it has favorable agronomic characteristics. However, the presence of chromium and sodium can negatively interfere with its use, causing physiological and anatomical disturbances that hinder the development of plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of chromium and sodium, present in dehydrated tannery sludge, in the development of conilon coffee seedlings (Coffea Canephora Pierre), grown on substrates containing tannery sludge and equivalent doses of chromium and sodium of individually and in association. The experiment was conducted in an irrigated seedling propagation nursery, with a randomized block design (DBC), containing 5 treatments, 7 blocks, each plot consisting of 10 plants. The treatments consisted of a 40% dose of tannery sludge and equivalent doses of chromium and sodium mixed with a substrate considered conventional. Several of the evaluated characteristics showed variations in the statistical analyzes, revealing different behavior patterns in the conilon coffee seedlings, when in the presence of chromium and sodium alone or even together. Notably, the presence of sodium in the substrate caused greater damage to plants compared to the presence of chromium. However, the presence of dehydrated tannery sludge, even containing the same levels of chromium and sodium, revealed a greater negative influence on the development patterns of the seedlings.