Development of a ball mill for preparation of substrate for production of vegetable seedlings

• Grant number: 10/20491-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2011
• End date: March 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Renato Zacharias
• Grantee: Rodrigo Mariani Verginelli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project proposes to study the partial reuse of vegetal material discarded during the growth of the plant (flowers, buds ...) or after harvest (fruits, seeds ...). Such material will be used to prepare new substrate for seedling production in greenhouse. In order to develop a process faster than composting, we opted for the comminution of mixed substrate-vegetal matter. Thus, various substances and micronutrients could be reused as complementary input, reducing (or eliminating) external inputs, the basic idea for achieving sustainability, with benefits to soil, farmer and consumers, with social, economic and environmental benefits. The construction of a ball mill suitable for substrates containing water and oil, as well the adaptation of computer applications for the study of leaves and roots will allow the candidate to be introduced to the scientific world in a multidisciplinary project with technological applications. (AU)