Viabilidade de substituição de uma espécie convencional (espinafre) por uma espécie não convencional (bertalha) na alimentação humana

Abstract

Conventional vegetables, for the most part, are cultivated with the aid of pesticides and conventional organic vegetables have an unaffordable cost for the majority of the population, but Non-Conventional Food Plants (PANC) are being studied precisely to prove their both nutritional and financial benefits. To illustrate the feasibility of replacing a conventional species with an unconventional species. The research aimed to evaluate the growth of Spinacia oleracea (spinach) and Basella alba L. (bertalha) seedlings in response to different concentrations of cattle manure. Soil samples were collected at an initial depth of 0-20 cm and subjected to chemical analysis. The design used was completely randomized (DIC), with four treatments (0, 20, 40 and 60 Mg/ha) and four replications, totaling 32 samples. Using spinach and bertalha seedlings, germinated in Styrofoam trays, the experiment involved transplants to plastic pots after the development of two pairs of leaves. Destructive samples were carried out during transplantation and weekly evaluations of number of leaves and height. At harvest, the plants were separated into leaves, stem and root to determine fresh and dry mass. Leaf area was determined with the WinFolia Pro 2012a software. The relative growth rates (TCR) and net assimilation rates (TAL) were calculated in accordance with the methodology of Benincasa (2003). The root volume was obtained by the water introduction method, using a beaker. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the mean test (Tukey at 5%). Normality tests (Lilliefors) and homogeneity of variances (Bartlett test) were performed. Statistical analysis was conducted in a completely randomized experimental design, using the ASSISTAT version 7.7 beta program. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the impact of different levels of cattle manure on the growth and development of vegetables, showing the feasibility of replacing spinach with bertalha in human food, considering that PANC has proven to be an advantageous agricultural practice.