Millicomposting: Sustainable technique for obtaining organic compost for the cultivation of broccoli seedlings

Abstract

Millicomposting is a little-known technique in Brazil and especially in the world. It consists of the use of millipedes, which through their millipede feeding activity, enhance the fragmentation of agricultural and urban waste. It is through the accumulation of its fecal pellets that the formation of the organic compost, which we call millicompost, occurs. Given the need to increasingly prioritize the use of sustainable substrates, the objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of millet in the production of broccoli seedlings. The substrates used were: millicompost obtained after 180 days of millicomposting and the commercial substrate Biomix® organic . The substrates were characterized as to their physicochemical, chemical and physical properties. Shoot and root dry mass (g), plant height (cm), number of leaves, seedling vigor and clod stability were evaluated. Millicompost showed greater total macronutrients supply around 201, 138, 85, 293 and 29% for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium, respectively. Concerning to physical properties, the millicompost showed higher water retention capacity and lower volumetric density. These results reflected in an increase of 217% in the accumulation of shoot dry mass and 148% in the root dry mass, promoting 36% more clod stability, providing the formation of broccoli seedlings with height two times greater than the seedlings developed in the commercial substrate Biomix® organic . The millicomposting represents a new alternative for recycling organic waste to obtain organic substrate for producers, as it provides more vigorous seedlings for transplanting in production sites. • Millipedes are able to transform agricultural and urban waste into organic compost. • The use of millicompost in the cultivation of brocolli seedlings was evaluated for the first time. • The Millicompost contains three times more nitrogen than commercial substrate. • The millicompost has produced healthy and vigorous brocolli seedlings. • A new alternative of the organic substrate with the potential to reduce the production costs.