Sistema integrado de aquicultura e produção de mudas de sabiá com águas de diferentes salinidades

Abstract

The Brazilian semi-arid region faces several challenges for agricultural production. Among which water quality is a limiting factor. One possible alternative is the use of integrated systems that recycle animal waste for plant production, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability. The objective of this study was to investigate the productive viability of integrated systems combining tilapia farming and the production of sabiá seedlings, using water with different salinity levels. A randomized block design was adopted in split-split plots, with plots consisting of three water sources with electrical conductivity of 0.2, 1.6, and 3.0 dS m⁻¹; subplots with and without tilapia farming; and sub-subplots with and without mineral fertilization. Each treatment had four replicates and two plants per experimental unit. The seedlings were subjected to the treatments for 50 days, and growth variables, biomass production, physiological responses, mineral nutrient contents, and seedling quality were evaluated. An interaction was observed between irrigation water salinity and aquaculture residues for plant height (AP), leaf number (NF), and total fresh mass (MFT), with fish residues attenuating the deleterious effects of salinity, especially at 1.6 dS m⁻¹. The integration of fish farming and forest seedling production proved effective for plant development and mitigation of salinity stress, although responses depended on water salinity levels. The results showed that the mixture of brackish and fresh water, integrated into aquaculture, can be an alternative for the production of seedlings of Caatinga forest species, expanding income possibilities in rural areas. Keywords: Seedling production; Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia; Biosaline agriculture; Aquaculture