Abstract
Alternative farming techniques to increase lettuce quality and productivity, rising environmental and social development has been the subject of several studies. The objective of this study was to select economic and readily available cover materials to enhance the production of curly lettuce, in the south of Piauí. It was used a Randomized Block Design with four replications, with the following ground cover treatments: rice husk (Oryza sativa L.), chopped andropogon straw grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth), sawmill dust and a control without ground cover. The andropogon straw grass can be recommended in lettuce production under the prevailing edaphoclimatic conditions at Uruçuí in southwest Piauí.
Highlights
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) stands out for being the most consumed leafy vegetable in Brazil (SALA; COSTA, 2012) and it is of great economic value (QUEIROGA et al, 2002; GRANGEIRO et al, 2006)
Several materials are used as soil cover, highlighting plastic mulching, coffee shells, double-sided low density plastic film, grass, banana leaves, sawdust, black agrotextil, rice husks, among others (REGHIN et al, 2002; STAL; DUSKY, 2003; ANDRADE JUNIOR et al, 2005; RODRIGUES et al, 2009; BRANCO et al, 2010; BRANDÃO et al, 2016)
Positive mulching effects observed on plants development (SOUZA; RESENDE, 2003) are mostly a reflection of a biologically more suitable environment (FIALHO et al, 1991), low water loss and less soil temperature fluctuations (BRAGAGNOLO; MIELNICZUK, 1990), especially in the first few centimeters, which favors greater surface roots proliferation (CARTER; JOHNSON, 1988)
Summary
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) stands out for being the most consumed leafy vegetable in Brazil (SALA; COSTA, 2012) and it is of great economic value (QUEIROGA et al, 2002; GRANGEIRO et al, 2006). These authors claim lettuce production is low Northeast of Brazil, compared to areas with mild temperatures, which hindrances its growth and development, preventing the expression of its genetic potential, as well as leaving the domestic demand unattended. Several materials are used as soil cover, highlighting plastic mulching, coffee shells, double-sided low density plastic film, grass, banana leaves, sawdust, black agrotextil, rice husks, among others (REGHIN et al, 2002; STAL; DUSKY, 2003; ANDRADE JUNIOR et al, 2005; RODRIGUES et al, 2009; BRANCO et al, 2010; BRANDÃO et al, 2016)
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