Abstract

BENITEZ DE LA TORRE, Alfonso et al. Effect of using sweet whey in irrigation of alfalfa and corn. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2023, vol.14, n.spe29, e3532.  Epub Nov 17, 2023. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v14i29.3532.

The use of whey in agricultural applications is an option to reduce the environmental impact it causes when it is discharged without control. The purpose of this work was to measure the phytotoxicity of sweet whey that is generated during the production of fresh cheese in seeds and seedlings of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) as test-target organisms. Four individual experiments were carried out in the Laboratory of Microbial Molecular Ecology of the CICM-ICBUAP in the city of Puebla, Mexico, from June to December 2018 and January 2019, under controlled conditions, both in Petri dishes with culture medium and in seedling trays with substrate, in a completely randomized experimental design (CRED) with five treatments (4, 8, 12, 16 and 20% whey and a drinking water control). The variables evaluated were the lethal concentration (LC50), by inhibition of germination in the two seeds, and the sublethal concentration (SLC), by decreased development of sprouts and seedlings. The results obtained indicate that sweet whey has an LC50-5 of 53% and an SLC-10 of 12% in alfalfa seeds (p< 0.05) and an LC50-60 of 20% in alfalfa seedlings and an LC50-20 of 20% in corn seedlings. At 60 days, it was observed that, at concentrations between 4 and 6%, sweet whey has a growth-promoting effect on alfalfa seedlings (p< 0.05), concluding that it is possible to use diluted whey in sustainable agricultural practices safely.

Keywords : germination; phytotoxicity; seedlings.

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