No abstract

Traditionally, biochar is generally proposed to substitute Canadian Sphagnum peat moss. Sugarcane bagasse, filter press mud and sugarcane bagasse ash were mixed in different ratios and proposed as an alternative to substitute commercial Sphagnum peat moss (SPM) for the soilless cultivation of tomato (S. lycopersicum Linnaeus). The choice of the agroindustrial waste ratio was performed from physical-chemical sample characterization. During vegetable production, an adequate ratio was evaluated based on plant height, substrate pH, number of leaves, yield, and fruit size. The addition of essential macro- and micro-nutrients was performed manually. The results show that as-received materials contain different minerals with a structure that corresponds to the quartz, cristobalite, and feldspar phases. A morphology composed of lamellate structures was observed for sugarcane bagasse, whereas the filter press mud and the sugarcane bagasse ash presented compact agglomerates with a surface area of 1.60, 3.78, and 1.07 m2 g−1, respectively. The properties of each component promote the water adsorption, retention and releasing capacity. Important differences were observed as the quantity of filter press mud increased, but also it is required an amount of sugarcane bagasse above of 18 wt% to reach a superior performance. This work demonstrated that, in adequate quantities, agroindustrial wastes can be used as a soilless substrate for growing tomatoes in greenhouse, reducing their disposal problems.

The treatment of agroindustrial residues is an alternative to waste management and obtain products with added value. In this article, we describe the confocal microscopy images, the microbiological data, policosanol content and color measurement linked to the paper “production of dietary fibers from sugarcane bagasse and sugarcane tops using microwave - assisted alkaline treatments”. The data contain photographs after elaboration of noodles-type pasta and chapatti-type fermented bread; the confocal laser scanning micrographs, before and after including sugarcane bagasse and sugarcane tops fibers in foods. Microbiological analyses of total coliforms, molds and yeasts, and aerobic mesophiles were also presented according to Mexican Standard NOM- 247-SSA1-2008 which confirmed that the food is safe for human consumption. The data provided in this article have not been previously published and are available to enable critical or extended analyses.