Nutrient contents and growth of corn fertigated with human urine and cassava wastewater

Jailton G Ramos,Elysson M G Andrade,Suenildo J C Oliveira,Narcísio C De Araújo,Vera L A De Lima,Geovani S De Lima

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v23n9p681-686

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the contents of macronutrients (NPK and S) and the growth of ‘Potiguar’ corn fertigated with human urine, cassava wastewater and their associations with NPK. The experiment was set up in greenhouse located on Campus I of Universidade Federal de Campina Grande. A completely randomized experimental design was used, consisting of eight treatments, corresponding to fertigation with mineral fertilizer NPK formula; organic, composed of yellow water, cassava wastewater and human urine associated with cassava wastewater; organomineral, composed of human urine associated with phosphorus and potassium, cassava wastewater associated with nitrogen and phosphorus and human urine associated with cassava wastewater and phosphorus, with five repetitions. At 50 days after sowing (DAS), plants were evaluated for the leaf NPK and S concentrations and growth variables: number of leaves, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, fresh and dry mass of leaves, mass of stem and shoots. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and the growth variables number of leaves, plant height, fresh and dry mass of leaves, mass of stem and of shoot were influenced by fertigation with human urine, cassava wastewater concentrations and their associations with NPK. In the leaves of corn cultivar Potiguar the accumulated concentrations of N, P and K, at 50 DAS, varied in the sequence N > K > P. Human urine has potential as source of N in fertigation of corn and cassava wastewater can be used if associated with other sources of nutrients.

Highlights

The use of alternative sources of fertilizers arises as an alternative to minimize costs with the acquisition of synthetic fertilizers and the environmental impacts resulting from the exploitation of natural resources
A completely randomized experimental design was used, consisting of eight treatments, corresponding to fertigation with mineral fertilizer NPK formula; organic, composed of yellow water, cassava wastewater and human urine associated with cassava wastewater; organomineral, composed of human urine associated with phosphorus and potassium, cassava wastewater associated with nitrogen and phosphorus and human urine associated with cassava wastewater and phosphorus, with five repetitions
The agricultural use of human urine associated with cassava wastewater has been tested in the cultivation of cowpea (Araújo et al, 2017a), lettuce (Araújo et al, 2017b) and bell pepper (Ramos et al, 2017)

Summary

Introduction

The use of alternative sources of fertilizers arises as an alternative to minimize costs with the acquisition of synthetic fertilizers and the environmental impacts resulting from the exploitation of natural resources. In this context, special attention has been given to the agricultural use of organic wastes from sanitation (wastewater and sludge produced in their treatment systems, manure from livestock farming and biodegradable municipal solid waste). According to Conceição et al (2013), cassava wastewater stands out for the high concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc and manganese; potassium being the macronutrient at highest concentration compared to the others can be used as a potential fertilizer. On the other hand, Ramos et al (2017) obtained increase in the quality of bell pepper fruits under fertigation with only cassava wastewater

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Conclusion