Produção de forragem de milho hidropônica com fontes alternativas de adubação

Abstract

Semi-arid regions face challenges due to water scarcity and the high cost of inputs for forage cultivation, thus hydroponics emerges as a viable alternative for food production with lower water consumption and greater nutritional efficiency. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the forage production of hydroponic corn using alternative fertilization sources: aquaculture effluent and biofertilizer based on sheep manure. The experiment was conducted in two stages, both carried out over 20 days until harvest, in blocks of casualized delineation (DBC). In the first experiment, different concentrations of aquaculture effluent (25%, 50%, and 75%) were tested along with a control that only contained water. In the second stage, the effect of different concentrations of biofertilizer produced with sheep manure (15%, 30%, and 45%) was evaluated, also compared with a control using only water. The results found showed that, although the use of effluent did not show statistically significant differences, all concentrations resulted in satisfactory productivity. The biofertilizer has already provided a significant increase in the biomass of the aerial parts at concentrations of 30% and 45%, highlighting its potential as an alternative fertilizer in hydroponic systems. It is concluded that both sources are viable and sustainable, especially in semi-arid regions, contributing to cost reduction and reuse of waste.