Physical and chemical characterization of substrates obtained from tequila agave bagasse [Caracterización física y química de sustratos agrícolas a partir de bagazo de agave tequilero]

Tequila agave bagasse was characterized and evaluated in order to know its potential as an alternate substrate comparable to commercial peat. A mixture of bagasse and lamb manure 4:1 v/v, was subjected to two biotransformation processes: vermicomposting for 130 days to obtain vermicompost (bv), and conventional composting in order to obtain two different materials: a mature compost (bc) of 130 days, and an immature precompost (bp) of 60 days. Water-washed bagasse (bf) was also utilized. Two commercial peats imported from Canada, Sunshine 3 (s-s) and VTM Sogemix (vtm), were employed as control. Physical properties of the materials such as apparent density, real density, and humidity and retention were determined. Chemical properties of cationic exchange capacity, pH, electrical conductivity (CE), phenolic acids concentration, and nutritional contents were also determined. The results show that the physical and chemical properties of the bp, bv and bc substrates provide appropriate growing conditions, a similar way to the commercial peats s-s and vtm. It is concluded that bagasse agave offers a significant potential as a agricultural substrate