Viabilidade ambiental do uso de resíduos de tabaco em substituição aos resíduos de poda e capina como agente de volume na compostagem

Abstract

The present study evaluated the technical feasibility of composting organic waste, with an emphasis on the use of tobacco waste (TA) as a structuring agent. Food waste (FW) from the UTFPR-Medianeira University Restaurant and an agro-industrial cooperative, cattle manure (CM) from a local dairy farm, grass clippings (GC) from UTFPR, and TA provided by the Federal Revenue Service were characterized. The composting piles were set up with different proportions of these materials and monitored for physicochemical (pH, electrical conductivity, C/N ratio) and microbiological parameters over 60 days. The quality of the composts was assessed through phytotoxicity and germination tests using lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa), grown in a greenhouse under controlled conditions (19°C, 16-hour photoperiod). The results showed that the piles containing GC exhibited the best quality indices, with final composts that promoted greater plant vigor (shoot height: 12.3 cm; dry mass: 0.45 g; Dickson Quality Index: 0.00530.006). In contrast, treatments with TA exhibited phytotoxicity, reflected in lower DQI values (0.00130.003) and impaired root development. Mixtures containing TA and GC in balanced proportions showed intermediate results, suggesting that grass clippings may partially mitigate the negative effects of tobacco. It is concluded that although TA can be incorporated into composting processes, its use requires careful dosage and combination with other materials to avoid compromising the agronomic quality of the final compost. The results reinforce the potential of waste materials such as GC and FW in the production of high-quality organic fertilizers, while TA requires further management studies for its safe use.