WATER PRODUCTION AND USE IN THE CALADIUM FERTIRRIGED WITH WASTEWATER FROM AÇAÍ PROCESSING IN THE AMAZON REGION

Abstract

In the state of Pará, the açaí fruit (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is one of the main foods consumed by the population, being the region indicated as the largest producer and consumer of açaí in the country. The açaí pulping process generates a nutrient-rich wastewater that can be reused in agriculture. The present work evaluated the water conditions of Caladium sp. under different dilutions of açaí wastewater in the municipality of Tomé-Açu, Pará. The experiment was conducted at the campus of the Rural Federal University of Amazônia. The experimental design was completely randomized (DIC) with four replications and 13 fractional treatments, with variation of bulbs (1, 2, 3, 4, and 6) and percentages of wastewater (0, 25, 50, and 100%). A drip fertigation system was used and the water conditions were evaluated through the water stress index, consumption, and efficiency of wastewater use by the crop. The use of wastewater from the processing of açaí used for fertigation showed greater benefits for the parameters studied in the percentages of 0, 25, and 50% and with the variation of bulbs of 3, 4, and 6 for the cultivation of caladium.