CONCENTRATION OF NUTRIENTS IN CORN PLANTS FERTILIZED WITH CASSAVA WASTEWATER AFTER ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

Abstract

The cassava processing generates different types of wastes, including manipueira, which is highly polluting due to its high organic load and concentration highly toxic cyanide compounds. One way to treat this affluent is through anaerobic digestion, which finally yields biofertilizers as byproduct. This study was done to evaluate the effect of applying these biofertilizers at different doses on the nutrient concentration and dry matter accumulation in corn plants. The experiment was carried out in the Anaerobic Digestion Laboratory of the Agricultural Engineering Department, Federal University of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Corn plants were raised in 7.5 liters plastic pots filled with Cambisol Haplic Tb Distrophic Latossolic soil, in a green house. The plants were fertilized in accordance with the recommendations for the corn crop. The experiment was conducted in the completely randomized design, using three types of biofertilizers at three doses each. The non-fertilized plants served as control. The results were subjected to analysis of variance. The application of biofertilizers did not change the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the vegetative tissues, nor affect dry matter accumulation.