SUMMARY The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of silages prepared with a dry bakery by-product hydrated with acid whey or water associated or not at urea. The trial was a 3 (hydration at three moisture levels: 250, 300, and 350 mL kg−1 of by-product) × 3 (three application rates of urea: 0, 5, and 10 g kg−1 of by-product) × 2 (liquid used at hydration: acid whey or water) factorial arrangement. Mini-silos were used as experimental silos and remained closed for 30 days. Overall, silages hydrated with acid whey had higher (P<0.01) production of lactic (19.6 vs. 18.5 g kg−1 of dry matter [DM]), acetic (2.5 vs. 1.8 g kg−1 of DM) and propionic acid (8.0 vs. 5.4 g kg−1 of DM), and lower (P<0.05) fungi counts (5.35 and 5.01 cfu g−1 of fresh silage) compared to silages hydrated with water. Increased hydration led to the higher production of total acids (P<0.01), decreasing silage pH; but increased hydration reduced DM recovery (P<0.01). Silages hydrated with water and acid whey at 250 mL kg−1 and combined at 5 and 10 g kg−1 of urea exhibited higher DM recovery (P<0.05). Silages of a dry bakery by-product hydrated with acid whey had a better fermentation pattern and could represent a practical strategy to avoid discarding both by-products into environment.

Coffee processing generates large amounts of husk, which can be used as organic fertilizer if technical criteria are considered. This study investigated the effect of coffee husk, applied to or incorporated into the soil, on soil fertility properties, early crop growth and nutrient accumulation in coffee plants. The experiment analyzed coffee plants in a greenhouse in pots, in randomized blocks, in a 5x2 factorial arrangement plus a control treatment, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of the combination of five coffee husk rates (3.5; 7; 14; 28, and 56 t ha-1), applied in two forms: spread on the surface or incorporated into the soil, plus the control treatment, without husk application. Portions of 7 dm 3 soil were blended with lime, phosphate fertilizer, as well as coffee husk rates in the treatments with residue incorporation, and incubated for 30 days. Thereafter, one coffee seedling per plot was planted, the coffee husk rates were applied on the soil surface for the treatments without residue incorporation, and the plants were left to grow for 180 days. Coffee husk applied to or incorporated into the soil surface increases the K and organic matter contents of the soil, intensifies the early growth of coffee plants and accelerates N and K accumulation in the plant shoots. The application of coffee husk on the surface is more indicated than its incorporation into the soil, and the best rate at coffee planting is equivalent to 20 t ha-1 .