BIODEGRADABLE TREEPOTS MADE WITH BEE WAX AND WASTES OF CASHEW NUT
seedling production, agro-industrial waste, sustainable development. circular economy.
Seedling production is commonly carried out in polyethylene bags and polypropylene treepots, raw material from petroleum. In addition to being derived from non-renewable natural resources, they have a long-life cycle and cause a relevant environmental impact. Forest and agro-industrial waste, which also applies to this use, is renewable, easy-to-obtain and biodegradable materials. Thus, the study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using cashew residues associated with beeswax for the manufacture of biodegradable treepots intended for the production of seedlings of forest essences. The treepots will be made with wastes from the processing of cashew nuts previously selected and classified. The cashew nut husks will be used to manufacture the treepots and will be evaluated according to the standards TAPPI ABNT, ASTM and TAPPI, in relation to characterization and quality. Additionally, the biodegradable treepots and conventional treepots will be submitted to the planting of Sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.) and evaluated for the development and quality of seedlings produced in a nursery with 50% of shading. The composites produced were analyzed as to the behavior according to the physical-mechanical properties of the material. seedlings and evaluated their development in a greenhouse and in the field. The raw materials chosen were suitable for the manufacture of tubes, in which beeswax has melting temperature at 60°C and cashew nut bark has chemical composition rich in NPK, oils and resins. The biodegradable tubes presented quality indicators of seedlings similar to conventional ones, however, with low mechanical resistance. It is concluded that it is possible to develop tubes through the suggested raw materials (carbonized cashew nut bark and beeswax) that proved viable for the production of biodegradable tubes. The material, in a nursery, was resistant to sun exposure, ambient temperature conditions and daily watering, without the deformation of its structure, offering adequate conditions for the production of seedlings, similar to polypropylene tubes.