Residues of the Cork Industry as Carriers for the Production of Legume Inoculants

 

Eugénio Mendes Ferreira* and Isabel Videira e Castro

Senior Researchers

Estação Florestal Nacional. Departamento de Ecologia, Recursos Naturais e Ambiente. Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-159 OEIRAS

 

 

Abstract. Growth and survival of two rhizobial strains, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii, and Mesorhizobium ciceri, were used to evaluate residues from the cork industry as potential carriers for production of rhizobial inoculants. A peat-based carrier was used as a control. 41 days after inoculation, the number of viable bacteria was high, about 10⁹ bacteria g^-1 for all carriers. Rhizobial survival during storage (450 days) remained stable, between 10⁸ and 10⁹. The cork residues based carriers showed good handling properties and water holding capacities, they were non-toxic and had a nearly neutral pH. All these factors indicate that the use of these carriers is viable for the production of rhizobial inoculants.

Key words: carriers; cork industry; legume inoculants; Rhizobium

 

Resíduos da Indústria dos Aglomerados da Cortiça como Potenciais Substractos para a Produção de Inoculantes para Sementes de Leguminosas

Sumário. O crescimento e a sobrevivência de duas estirpes de Rhizobium, uma de Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii, e outra de Mesorhizobium ciceri, foram usados para avaliação de resíduos da indústria dos aglomerados da cortiça como potenciais substractos para a produção de inoculantes para sementes de leguminosas. A turfa  foi usada como controlo. 41 dias após a inoculação, o n.º das bactérias viáveis era elevado e semelhante em todos os substractos, aproximadamente 10⁹ bactérias g^-1. A sobrevivência durante os 450 dias de armazenamento  permaneceu  estável, entre 10⁸ e 10⁹. Os resíduos da cortiça mostraram possuir boas características de manuseio, boas capacidades de retenção de água, não apresentaram toxicidade, possuíam pH perto da neutralidade, indicando poderem ser utilizados como substractos alternativos à turfa na produção de inoculantes para leguminosas..

Palavras-chave: inoculantes; resíduos da indústria da cortiça ; Rhizobium

 

Résidus de l'Industrie du Liège comme Substrats pour la Production des Inoculums pour les Légumineuses

Résumé. La croissance et la survivance de deux souches de bactéries, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii et Mesorhizobium ciceri, ont été employées pour évaluer l'utilisation des résidus de l'industrie de la fabrication des agglomérés du liège comme potentiels substrats pour la production d'inoculants pour les semences des légumineuses. La tourbe a été utilisée comme témoin. 41 jours après inoculation, le nombre de bactéries viables était élevé et semblable pour tous les substrats, environ 10⁹ bactéries g^-1. La survivance pendant le stockage, 450 jours, est restée stable, entre 10⁸ et 10⁹. Les résidus de l'industrie du liège ont montré avoir de bonnes propriétés de manipulation et de rétention d'eau. De même ils étaient non toxiques, pouvant être employés comme substrats possibles pour la production des inoculums rhizobiens.

Mots clés: inoculums; liège; résidus de l'industrie; Rhizobium

 

 

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Entregue para publicação em Agosto de 2004

Aceite para publicação em Março de 2005

 

* 1º Autor E-mail:eugeniomferreira@net.sapo.pt