Abstract

SERRAO, Joana et al. Ecotoxicological characterization of end-of-life organic substrate. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2022, vol.45, n.4, pp.581-590.  Epub Dec 01, 2022. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.28548.

In recent years the use of substrates in horticultural protected crops has been increasing. Their use presents several advantages including a more efficient use of water and nutrients and a reduction in the use of phytopharmaceutical products. However, at the end-of-life of these materials, their disposal is still a matter of continuous research and controversial discussion. Due to the high organic matter content of organic substrates (OS), the incorporation of these residues in agricultural fields could be advantageous. However, this practice requires a prior assessment of its environmental safety because of the risk of contamination and accumulation of bioactive molecules during cultivation cycles. The aim of this work was to make an ecotoxicological evaluation of one OS from soilless tomato production using standard protocols. A natural agricultural soil was amended with three increasing percentages of end-of-life OS (2.5, 5 and 10%). Effects of amended soils on seedling emergence and plant growth, earthworm reproduction rate and selected soil enzymatic activity were assessed. The preliminary results did not reveal major detrimental effects derived from the amendment of soil using end-of-life coconut substrate, at least for the percentages tested. In the future, more studies are necessary to evaluate possible impacts in freshwater resources.

Keywords : organic substrates; ecotoxicological assays; environmental risk assessment; waste valorisation; soil health.

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