Coconut fiber and cotton waste as substrate for tomato seedlings

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate fiber mixture of coconut and cotton waste, to produce substrate for tomato seedling production (cultivar Kada Gigante). The experimental design was randomized blocks, four replications, with seven treatments: T1) Commercial Substrate Hortimix®; T2) 0% coconut dry fiber mass (FC)+100% dry mass of cotton waste (RA); T3) 20% (FC)+80% (RA); T4) 40% (FC)+60% (RA); T5) 60% (FC)+40% (RA); T6) 80% (FC)+20% (RA); T7) 100% (FC)+0% (RA). The vigor was evaluated in terms of percentage and index of emergence, stem diameter, seedling height. Increasing the proportion of coconut fiber to cotton waste ratio resulted in an increase of percentage and index of emergence; however, the stem diameter, seedling height, shoot and root fresh and dry mass decreased. The residue of cotton proceeding from the compostage of residues of the textil factory, constitutes in a useful material in the commercial substrate production.

Lycopersicum esculentum; organic compost; vegetable