Organic substrate formulated with elephant grass, cattle manure and different amounts of biochar for the production of beetroot and lettuce seedlings
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In the growing pace of organic agriculture, where food demand and production grow at an accelerated pace, there are some demands to improve agricultural processes. There is a strong appeal for organic seedlings, since production is irrelevant in relation to the production of vegetables. In organic agriculture With Ordinance No. 52/2021, this demand should increase, as the use of seedlings produced in conventional systems is still allowed, but according to the ordinance, this will end in 2022. The research meets this reality, as it seeks for materials and methods that can generate organic substrate, with inputs easily found in the region. The composting of Elephant Grass, Cattle Manure and different amounts of Biochar (0%, 10%, 20% and 40%) will be carried out in open windrows. After this material will be used as a substrate, for evaluation of the substrates will be carried out eight treatments, Substrate with 100% compost without biochar; Substrate with 10% biochar compound; Substrate with 20% biochar compost; Substrate with 40% biochar compost; Substrate with 90% compost without biochar + 10% biochar; Substrate with 80% compost without biochar + 20% biochar; Substrate with 60% compost without biochar + 40% biochar; and, Carolina Soil Commercial Substrate. In the production of organic beet (Beta vulgaris) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seedlings. Evaluating the substrate from the degree of stability of the clod; Root volume; Seedling height; Number of sheets; Fresh matter from aerial part.