Subprodutos agroindustriais na formação de epífitas amazônicas ornamentais

Abstract

In the Amazon, large amounts of agroforestry waste are generated annually, making it essential to conduct research to assess its technical, economic and environmental viability. One of the possible uses of these wastes is as substrate for the production of ornamental plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of agroindustrial byproducts as substrate for the cultivation of ornamental Amazonian epiphytes of the Araceae family, including Anthurium clavigerum, Anthurium gracile, Anthurium plowmanii and Monstera adansonii. Experiments with a completely randomized design were conducted to evaluate substrates composed of Brazil nut shells (Bertholletia excelsa), sapucaia bark (Lecythis pisonis) and açaí seed (Euterpe oleracea), alone or in combination with commercial substrates, and to determine their effects on the growth and development of these species. The results indicated that Brazil nut shells were the most efficient substrates, promoting a greater number of leaves, greater leaf area and greater accumulation of fresh and dry biomass compared to the other byproducts tested. This superior performance was attributed to the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio and its more balanced nutrients, factors that favor the availability of essential nutrients. The açaí seed, despite presenting the highest potassium content, nitrogen content and C/N ratio similar to the Brazil nut shells, showed lower plant growth, a performance attributed to the low phosphorus content. On the other hand, the sapucaia and pine barks showed low efficiency as substrates, resulting in lower seedling growth, possibly due to the difficulty in releasing nutrients. The findings of this research highlight the potential of Brazil nut shells as a sustainable substrate for the production of Amazonian epiphytes, which can replace commercial substrates. In addition, the use of this biomass contributes to the reduction of the environmental impact caused by agroindustrial waste and promotes the valorization of native species in the ornamental sector.