Articles
Fertilizer type and planting time influence the yield and some quality parameters of Lactuca sativa L.
Article number
1391_62
Pages
449 – 454
Language
English
Abstract
Intensive lettuce cultivation involves extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides, which can lead to widespread contamination.
Nitrogen is an essential element required for successful plant growth.
Although inorganic nitrogen compounds (i.e., NH4+, NO2–, and NO3–) account for less than 5% of the total nitrogen in the soil, they are the main form of the element most plants absorb.
However, the mineralisation rate is controlled by several factors, including agricultural management, microorganisms, soil properties, temperature and water content, and the type of fertilizer.
The experiment with lettuce Canasta Manade was set up as a split plot with five replicates, with N fertilization as the main factor (four fertilizers: Azotop 30, Agrofert MB, calcium ammonium nitrate, Entec® 26(+13S)) and planting date as a sub-factor (three terms). The results show that for all terms, the weight of the marketable part of the rosette was statistically higher when Entec® 26(+13S) was applied.
For all the terms and fertilizers considered, statistical analysis of the data showed no differences in the content of total tocopherols, total xanthophylls and total chlorophylls.
For the first two terms, NO3– and total nitrogen content in the marketable part of lettuce was higher in the fertilized treatments than in control.
The results suggest that weather conditions strongly influence the growth of the plant itself and the events related to nitrogen storage in the soil.
Considering the increasing use of more environmentally friendly fertilizers, it would be necessary to extend similar studies to even more monitored parameters both on the plant and in the soil itself.
Nitrogen is an essential element required for successful plant growth.
Although inorganic nitrogen compounds (i.e., NH4+, NO2–, and NO3–) account for less than 5% of the total nitrogen in the soil, they are the main form of the element most plants absorb.
However, the mineralisation rate is controlled by several factors, including agricultural management, microorganisms, soil properties, temperature and water content, and the type of fertilizer.
The experiment with lettuce Canasta Manade was set up as a split plot with five replicates, with N fertilization as the main factor (four fertilizers: Azotop 30, Agrofert MB, calcium ammonium nitrate, Entec® 26(+13S)) and planting date as a sub-factor (three terms). The results show that for all terms, the weight of the marketable part of the rosette was statistically higher when Entec® 26(+13S) was applied.
For all the terms and fertilizers considered, statistical analysis of the data showed no differences in the content of total tocopherols, total xanthophylls and total chlorophylls.
For the first two terms, NO3– and total nitrogen content in the marketable part of lettuce was higher in the fertilized treatments than in control.
The results suggest that weather conditions strongly influence the growth of the plant itself and the events related to nitrogen storage in the soil.
Considering the increasing use of more environmentally friendly fertilizers, it would be necessary to extend similar studies to even more monitored parameters both on the plant and in the soil itself.
Authors
A. Slatnar, N. Kacjan Marić, H. ircelj, M. Hudina, R. Veberič, T. Zamljen
Keywords
lettuce, nitrogen, secondary metabolites, total phenolic compounds, weather
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