Abstract

TELLEZ-PEREZ, Victoria; LOPEZ-OLGUIN, Jesús F.; ARAGON, Agustín  and  ZAYAS-PEREZ, María Teresa. RESIDUAL SLUDGE FROM “NEJAYOTE” AS SUBSTRATES FOR THE GERMINATION OF NATIVE BLUE MAIZE SEEDS. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2018, vol.34, n.3, pp.395-404. ISSN 0188-4999.  https://doi.org/10.20937/rica.2018.34.03.03.

Sludge obtained from raw nejayote (RNS) and sludge obtained from nejayote treated by coagulation/flocculation (SNCF) were evaluated as substrates for the germination of blue maize from Amozoc de Mota, Puebla. The RNS and SNCF were extracted by filtration and characterized in order to differentiate their physical and chemical properties. Four substrates were prepared with different soil and sludge contents: RNS25 and RNS50 with RNS; SNCF25 and SNCF50 with SNCF. The sludge content in the substrates was 25 and 50 % by mass, respectively. Soil of the region (S) was used as reference. The experiment was carried out under an experimental design of random blocks, with five replications of the five substrates. The functionality of the substrates for germination was determined with the germination percentage (GP) between 11 and 25 days after sowing (das). Data were analyzed with unifactorial and multifactorial ANOVA. The results show that at 25 das the GPs of maize were greater than or equal to 62.5 ± 9.4 % in the different substrates. GPs > 90 % were obtained with the RNS50 substrate from 15 to 25 das, showing significant differences compared to the other substrates. Due to their low organic matter, the substrates RNS25, SNCF25 and SNCF50 required a longer time to reach the GP obtained with S. The optimum concentration of sludge and S, together with the organic matter content, enable the use of nejayote sludge for the germination of blue maize.

Keywords : nixtamalization; coagulation/flocculation; Zea mays L.; organic matter; wastewater; sandy soils.