Textile sludge compost on soybean and wheat seedlings

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of textile sludge compost on soybean and wheat seedlings. The textile sludge compost was mixed with water plus nutritive solution, in the following concentrations (g of compost in 1,000 mL of water plus nutritive solution): 19 g L^-1, 38 g L^-1, 76 g L^-1 and 152 g L^-1. A control, constituted of water plus nutritive solution, was included in the experiment. A completely randomized design was used with four replicates. The seedlings were exposed to the concentrations of compost extract, in hydroponic system, and after 15 days, the total dry mass, height of aerial part, root length, chlorophyll content and peroxidase activity of leaves and roots were evaluated. Seedlings of both crops showed a decrease in the total dry mass, height of aerial part and root length with application of compost in concentrations equal to or above 38 g L^-1. Peroxidase activity in roots and leaves increased with the concentration of compost equal to or above 38 g L^-1. Concentrations above 19 g L^-1 of this textile sludge compost are harmfull to soybean and wheat seedlings.