Pre-sprouted Seedlings of Sugarcane Using Sugarcane Industry By-products as Substrate

The present study aimed to evaluate the chemical and physical/hydraulic properties of sugarcane bagasse and filter cake substrates in different compositions and proportions with sand and subsoil, as well as their use in the development of pre-sprouted seedlings (PSS) of sugarcane. The treatments were set up in a 5 x 5 factorial completely randomized design, with five proportions [(0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.00, on a volumetric basis (v/v)] of bagasse or cake in five compositions with sand or subsoil [Bagasse (Sand), Bagasse (Subsoil), Bagasse (Cake), Cake (Subsoil) and Cake (Sand)], totaling 25 treatments with three replications. As a reference to the formulated substrates, we used the commercial substrate Trimix(R). The chemical (pH and electrical conductivity) and physical (density, total porosity, aeration space, water holding capacity and particle size) properties were evaluated for the substrate characterization and the agronomic and productive variables for the characterization of PSS growth. The by-products, namely filter cake and sugarcane bagasse, recommended in the production of substrates can be used in the production of pre-sprouted seedlings of sugarcane from individualized buds. Equivalent volumetric proportions of cake and bagasse at 50% of each promoted growth and biomass production of pre-sprouted seedlings of sugarcane.