Produção de batatas-doce-semente em aeroponia

Abstract

The substitution of fossil fuels for alternative and renewable sources of energy is a growing factor in the global energy issue. From this perspective emerges the use of biomass as one of the most used alternative energy sources worldwide. One of the crops with great energetic potencial is the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), which use could mean the improvement of quality of countryside life. One difficulty in the production of sweet potato is its propagation, made mainly through vines, which is a protracted and laborious process. The purpose of this study was then, to verify the production of sweet potato tubers in aeroponics aiming to use them as seeds, as done with potato (Solanum tuberosum). An aeroponic system developed at State University of Ponta Grossa (UEPG) was adjusted to become automate so that two different nutrient solutions were tested for five genotypes of sweet potato. The number of leaves, measurements of avarage root length and measurement of maximum length and width of leaves were evaluated. For the nutrient solutions, pH and electric conductivity avarages were evaluated. The conclusion presented is that for root development the Hoagland and Arnon complete nutrient solution was more efficient, and improvements in the aeroponic system and in the nutrient solution must be done to achieve the goal of producing sweet potato tubers in aerocponics.