SLUDGE FROM RICE PARBOILING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AS ALTERNATIVE SUBSTRATE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF Araucaria angustifolia SEEDLINGS

ABSTRACT The sludge produced by rice parboiling wastewater treatment plants has substantial amounts of nutrients and organic matter, therefore requiring proper environmental disposal. One option is to use it as an alternative substrate for the production forest species seedlings. This study aimed assess viability using from Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) O. Kuntze A. seeds were kept in vermiculite until sprouting, then transferred polyethylene bags filled with five different substrates (treatments): 100% sand (T1); 75% 25% (T2); 50% (T3); (T4); (T5). Each had 10 replicates (bag one seedling). Shoot system growth, hypocotyl diameter, root growth biomass evaluated at 94, 180, 300 days growth. Data subjected Analysis Variance (ANOVA) followed Tukey test a significance level 5%. Seedlings’ was similar on treatments containing 25%, 50%, sludge, while resulted less days. In conclusion, suitable substrate, ratio + could be recommended, exploit larger residue.