Crescimento de tomate cereja cultivado em bioponia

Abstract

This experiment, conducted between February and May 2025, evaluated the comparison of conventional hydroponic cultivation with bioponic cultivation in the nutrition of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme), to verify whether bioponic cultivation presents similar or superior results to conventional cultivation. The research was carried out in a greenhouse at the Center for Biotechnology and Biodiversity of UESPI, in Teresina-PI. A completely randomized design was used, with four treatments and five replicates, totaling 20 experimental units. Three treatments consisted of different concentrated dosages of earthworm humus (1 kg/5 L water, 2 kg/5 L water and 4 kg/5 L water). Each liter of these concentrations was used to prepare a bucket with 7 liters of nutrient solution in bioponic cultivation. The fourth treatment was the control, using a commercial mineral nutrient solution. The seedlings were grown in the Deep Water Culture (DWC) system, with an aeration system to ensure adequate oxygenation of the roots. The analysis of plant growth and development was performed by measuring height, diameter and number of leaves. Chlorophyll concentration was also evaluated at three moments of the cycle with the SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter. The data were subjected to analysis of variance using the F test, with comparison of means using the Tukey test at 5% significance using the RSTUDIO statistical program. In view of the results, the mineral solution promoted greater growth in height and stem diameter from the 3rd week onwards, with more marked differences in the 4th and 5th weeks. However, the number of leaves and chlorophyll indices did not differ significantly between the treatments. Among the humus tea concentrations, the 2 kg/5 L concentration showed performance closest to the mineral, with no statistical difference in several variables, especially in the final weeks. Thus, although the mineral solution stood out in some parameters, bioponics with humus demonstrated similar performance in several aspects, configuring itself as a viable alternative to conventional cultivation.