PRODUCTION OF PASSION FRUIT SEEDLINGS WITH THE RESIDUE OF AGROINDUSTRIAL PROCESSING OF POTATOES AS A STRATEGY IN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRICULTURAL FAMILY ACTIVITY

Abstract

In order to contribute to family farming sustainable development and to the environmental management of the residue generated from potato processing by the company "Bem Brasil Alimentos LTDA" from Araxa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, an experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Araxa (FEAX) - EPAMIG between February to April of 2012, aiming to analyze passion fruit seedlings development from the use of different doses of this residue such as substrate, to reduce costs of raw materials. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with six treatments, four repetitions and 20 plants per plot, being the treatments, blends of soil (latosol) with levels of 10%, 20% and 30% of potato processing residue associated to chemical treatment and a witness. After 70 days of sowing, the height of air part (cm), root length (cm), number of leaves and total dry matter (g) were evaluated. The best treatment was the M4 which used latosol + chemical treatment + 20% of residue. It was diagnosed that the use of agroindustrial potato processing residue, as part of the substrate, is a favorable alternative for passion fruit seedlings development. Thus, it gives a destination to this residue instead of discarding it into the environment, as well as decreases the costs of raw material that permit its correct ecological use, besides generating more income for family farmers.