Biochar and cattle manure increase to water use efficiency on lettuce / Biochar e esterco bovino aumentam a eficiência no uso de água da alface

Abstract

The addition of biochar to agricultural soils is recommended to improve physical, chemical and biological soil functions and, hence, plant yield. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of biochar and cattle manure application on the yield, evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (EUA) of lettuce. A greenhouse pot experimente was conducted out using two types of biochar and cattle manure, in a completely randomized design, with three repetitions. Treatments consisted in four types of fertilization: cattle manure with coffee ground biochar (E+BBC); cattle manure with coffee husk biochar (E+BCC); coffee ground biochar (BBC); coffee husk biochar (BCC). Fresh biomass (BF), number of leaves (NF), ET and WUE of lettuce were evaluated. E+BBC treatment was found to provide higher BF. There was no effect of treatments on NF of lettuce. Higher water losses (ET) were observed in treatments that had coffee ground biochar (BBC and E+BBC). The treatments with cattle manure, regardless of biochar type, were the largest in the WUE. The use of coffee ground and coffee husk biochar plus cattle manure is recommended to reduce ET and increase WUE of lettuce.

Keywords

• Evapotranspiration
• Coffee residues
• Sandy soil