Using organic filters produced in local communities with low financial cost can reduce the environmental impacts caused by the disposal of untreated wastewater into receiving water bodies. In this study, the objective was to evaluate the efficiency of the filtration of swine wastewater (SWW) using banana stalk as an alternative material in an organic filter. SWW was applied to the organic filter and the filtered volume was converted into pore volume. Analyses of total solids, turbidity, color, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen were performed in the filter feed solution and effluent to evaluate treatment efficiency. Regression analyses were used to obtain equations in the estimation of the filtration performance in removing these variables from wastewater, with pore volume as an independent variable. The banana stalk filter did not remove total solids and color from the feed solution applied. Removal of 10–50% of SWW turbidity were obtained by the banana stalk. Banana stalk was highly efficient in removing nitrogen and phosphorus from SWW, reaching mean removals of 67% and 62%, respectively. In general, a banana stalk filter can be considered a promising alternative in the primary treatment of SWW.

Research on the use of anaerobic filters as an alternative material to gravel is fundamental, especially if they are low cost and highly efficient in the treatment of swine wastewater (SWW). This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of anaerobic filters filled with waste from the ceramic industry (WCI) as an alternative material to gravel in swine wastewater treatment. The experimental set-up consisted of three anaerobic polyvinyl chloride filters filled with WCI. A randomized block experimental design was used, with four treatments (evaluations of effects at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days) and three blocks, in a scheme of repeated measures over time. The univariate procedure was employed, and we sought to evaluate only the profile of the change in each response variable, between each evaluation time point. The anaerobic filter filled with WCI is a promising option in the treatment of swine effluents from small farms, presenting over 120 days of operation and average removals of 20%–50% of the color, 40%–70% of total solids, 45%– 75% of turbidity, 45%–55% of total nitrogen, and 33%–45% of total phosphorus.

No abstract

Using residues generated in agriculture to produce seedlingsis an economically interesting alternative, besides being a way to reduce the environmental impacts caused by their inadequate disposal. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of using coffee chaff (CC) and organic compost (OC) as substrate components for the production of Formosa papaya seedlings and the potential of grape pomace (GP), a vitiviniculture residue, in the composition of substrates for the production of okra and zucchini seedlings. We carried out two trials in a completely randomized design (CRD): the first had seven treatments and six replicates: T0: 100% commercial substrate Bioplant® (CS); from T1 to T6: increasing proportions of CC and decreasing of CC: 10/90; 20/80; 30/70; 40/60; 50/50 e 60/40%. The second had six treatments and six replicates, with increasing proportions of GP and decreasing proportions of CS: 0/100; 10/90; 20/80; 30/70; 40/60 and 50/50%.In the first trial we evaluated the number of leaves, root length, seedling height, stem diameter, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, total dry mass and Dickson Quality Index (DQI) at 59 days after sowing.The second trialwas performed at 12 and 18 DAS and we analyzed the number of leaves, plant height, root length, collar diameter, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, total dry mass and Dickson Quality Index (DQI). Variables that met the assumptions of normality and homoscedasticity were subjected to Dunnett’s test. The substrate composed of coffee chaff and organic compost has a high potential to be used as an alternative substrate due to promote better quality of papaya seedlings compared to the commercial substrate. Alternative substrate containing 60% coffee chaff and 40% organic compost is recommended for the production of  Formosa papaya seedlings in tubes. The grape pomace (GP) has a high potential to be used as component in substrate for the production of okra and zucchini seedlings compared to the commercial substrate (CS) only. Alternative substrate composed of 50% GP and 50% CS is recommended for the production of zucchini seedlings, while substrate composed of 10% GP and 90% CS is recommended for the production of okra seedlings.

Uma das principais etapas do sistema de produção de alface é a produção de mudas, pois influencia o desempenho final e nutricional das plantas. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito do aumento dos níveis de resíduo do processamento de grãos de pimenta (moinha de pimenta) e diminuição dos níveis de húmus de minhoca na qualidade de mudas de alface. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), com seis tratamentos e dez repetições, sendo: T0: 0% moinha de pimenta (MP) + 100% de húmus (H); T1: 10% MP + 90% H; T2: 20% MP + 80% H; T3: 30% MP + 70% H; T4: 40% MP e 60% H; T5: 50% de MP e 50% de H. Aos 40 dias após a semeadura, foram avaliados: altura da planta, diâmetro do caule, peso seco da raiz, peso seco da parte aérea, massa total de matéria seca e Índice de Qualidade Dickson. A moinha de pimenta tem um alto potencial de uso como componente de substratos para a produção de mudas de alface. Recomenda-se o uso de substrato alternativo contendo 20% de moinha de pimenta e 80% de húmus na produção de mudas de alface.