Potential use of petroleum drilling waste in the substrate mixture to produce seedlings native to South America
摘要
Petroleum is a non–renewable resource, and its production generates various wastes, especially during the extraction, transportation, refining and storage processes. Among these wastes, gravel and drilling fluids have gained prominence after the prohibition of disposal at sea. An alternative for managing this waste is its use as a component of substrates to produce seedlings of tree species. However, there are few studies evaluating the potential of the association of petroleum drilling waste with commercial substrates and its effect on the nursery performance of native forest seedlings. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the potential use of petroleum drilling waste for the manufacture of substrates to produce seedlings of forest species native to South America. For this, Tabebuia roseoalba and Enterolobium contortisiliquum seedlings were produced with different combinations of petroleum drilling waste in the substrate (onshore (ON); offshore pre–salt (OFFPre); and offshore–post–salt (OFFPost)), in a greenhouse, for 120 days. Height, stem diameter, root volume, dry mass of leaves, stem and roots, leaf area, chlorophyll total, and leaf concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, and Dickson quality index (DQI) were evaluated. The use of petroleum drilling waste modified the physical and chemical properties of the substrates, increasing pH, dry and wet density, and water retention capacity. OFFPre waste increased the levels of metals, which limited the growth of T. roseoalba and E. contortisiliquum seedlings. Conversely, ON and OFFPost wastes (2.5 and 5% added to the substrate) promoted greater growth, biomass production and photosynthetic efficiency, due to greater nutrient availability. Nutritional analysis revealed that substrates with drilling waste led to increased P and K concentrations in the leaves, without increasing the levels of harmful metals. This demonstrates the potential of petroleum drilling waste as a viable component to produce high–quality morphological seedlings.