Vinasse effects on the germination of soybean, wheat, and quinoa under controlled conditions.

Abstract

Vinasse effects on the germination of soybean, wheat, and quinoa under controlled conditions.Vinasse, derivate from alcohol production (ethanol), has the possibilities of being used as a water andnutrient source. In this first study we researched the vinasse effect on germination and radicle elongationin three species: Glycine max (soybean), Triticum aestivum (wheat), and Chenopodium quinoa (quinoa).Pure or diluted vinasse (1:1; 1:5; 1:10 and 1:20 v/v) was used experiment in acid pH (4.5) and in neutralpH (7.2). Results showed that pure vinasse completely inhibits germination in all the studied species.In the lowest dilution 1:1, soybean and quinoa never germinated. Still, the wheat showed a delay in thegermination process and achieved a final percentage of 42%. In the other dilutions (1:5; 1:10 and 1:20)all the species, where both pH ranges were tested, the final germination exceeded 90%. Albeit, radicleelongation was affected in all the treatments with an increasing effect in lower dilutions. We suggestfurther complementary studies in semi-controlled environment (greenhouses) as well as field experimentsto better assess the dilution effect on the different phenological stages of the studied species.