Abstract

MARTINEZ GUTIERREZ, Gabino Alberto et al. Stacking times of mezcal bagasse waste and its effects in compost properties used for culture of tomato. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2013, vol.29, n.3, pp.209-216. ISSN 0188-4999.

The mezcal industry in Oaxaca, Mexico produces annually 122 696 tons of mezcal bagasse waste (Agave spp.), underutilized waste product that is incinerated or dumped into rivers and streams, causing serious environmental problems. In order to use, the organic bagasse waste as alternative for soilless culture of tomato (Solanum lycop-ersicum L.), there were evaluated three compost from different stacking times (0, 90 and 180 days). To each material, it was determined their physical and physicochemical properties, also, they were evaluated as substrates for the cultivation of tomato under greenhouse and compared with coconut dust. In the three compost, the found values of the physical and physicochemical properties are within the reference level for growing substrates, except for the pH value, which was high 7.3 to 7.7. The compost of 180 days showed better granulometric relationship particle ratio of fine, medium and coarse particles, which favors the values of certain physical properties and of the air-water ratio. The three maguey bagasse compost used as a soilless organic substrate for tomato outperformed the substrate obtained with the coconut dust and did not affect fruit quality. With the 180 days bagasse stacking the highest yield was obtained (3.5 kg per plant) and number of marketable fruits (26.4 fruits per plant).

Keywords : agave; mezcal; organic substrate; soilless culture; hydroponic.