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Sewage sludge application on peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth)

The effects of four doses of sewage sludge, applied in the planting furrow, on the aboveground biomass production of peach palm during the first year were evaluated. The experiment was carried out in Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil, in field conditions. Four doses of biosolid (equivalent to 0; 100; 200 and 400 kg ha-1 of N) were studied in a complete block experimental design, with six replications. Ten-month old seedlings from Putumayo landrace were utilized, in a planting density of 5,000 plants ha-1. Plant responses to biosolid doses were evaluated every month, by means of some traits directly correlated to peach palm growth and yield. Aboveground biomass (fresh weight base) accumulation was estimated, based on plant height. Statistical differences among doses were detected five months after planting, probably due to plant acclimation and nutrient assimilation. Anticipation of heart-of-palm harvesting could be detected, with 15% of plants ready to be harvested when treated with the dose of 400 kg ha-1 of N. An increase occurred in the number of offshoots per plant and in the percentage of suckered plants per plot as a function of biosolid doses. One year after sludge application, in the maximum response treatment (400 kg ha-1 of N), was obtained 27 ton ha-1 of aboveground biomass, 3.3 offshoots per plant and 77% of palms with offshoots were obtained.

Bactris gasipaes; aboveground biomass; growth; offshoots; palmito; pejibaye


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