Substrate based on pecan and peanut shells for the production of a strawberry crop

SEIMANDI, G.; PISTOLESSI, A. ; PANIGO, E.; RUIZ, V.E.; OGGERO, E.; NICOLLIER, J.G.; DERITA M.

San Pedro (Buenos Aires)

Simposio; VIII International Symposium on Biofumigation.; 2024

INTA EE San Pedro

The use of agricultural waste as inputs for substrates is evident. This is mainly due to the need to increase the value of wastes generated in production, and to reduce the application of synthetic fertilizers to soils. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the fertilizing capacity of a substrates based on pecan nut (NP) and peanut (M) shells on productive parameters in strawberry crops. Six treatments were established: T0 (100% soil); T1 (100% soil + NPK); NP-5 (95% soil + 5% shells-NP); NP-10 (90% soil + 10% shells-NP); M-5 (95% soil + 5% shells-M); M-10 (90% soil + 10% shells-M). Physicochemical analyses of the initial and final substrate were carried out. All cycle long, the weight and number of fruits, number of folioles and leaf area (monthly) were recorded, and quality parameters such as firmness (%), total soluble solids (% TSS) and pH were measured. ANOVA and Tukey´s test were used for comparisons. Regarding the weight of the fruits, the treatments with peanuts shells showed the highest values in the months of highest production, and showed a higher final accumulated weight than the controls T0 and T1. This trend was also observed in the number of folioles and leaf area. Firmness and TSS were higher in the treatments with pecan shells (59.9%; 3.7%), respect to T0 and T1 (50.3 and 52.2%; 3.4 and 3%); The T1 and substrate treatments showed lower pH (3.1) compared to T0 (3.6). In conclusion, the use of substrates based on peanut shells improved the productivity of strawberry crops and the quality parameters of the fruits. Although the pecan shells treatments showed greater firmness and TSS content, their yield and vegetative conditions were significantly lower compared to the control and peanut shells treatments.