Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the use of saline solutions enriched with calcium nitrate in the production of lettuce grown in coconut fiber. The experiment was carried out from July to August 2017 in a greenhouse, at the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid Region (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN, Brazil. A randomized block design was used, in 2 × 5 factorial scheme, with three replicates. Treatments resulted from the combination of two lettuce cultivars [Elba (Curly) and Irene (Crisphead)] and five nutrient solutions (S1- standard nutrient solution; S2-S1 + NaCl (28.48 mmol L-1); S3-S2 + Ca(NO3)2 (6.89 mmol L-1); S4-S2 + Ca(NO3)2 (9.15 mmol L-1); S5-S2 + Ca(NO3)2 (11.43 mmol L-1)]. Plants were harvest 30 days after transplantation and the following variables were analyzed: head diameter, stem diameter, number of leaves, fresh weight, dry weight, leaf area, specific leaf area and leaf succulence. The cv. Irene (Crisphead) is more tolerant to nutrient solution salinity compared with the cv. Elba (Curly). Nutrient solutions enriched with 50 and 100% of Ca(NO3)2 promoted better performance of the cultivars Elba and Irene, respectively, fertigated with saline nutrient solution.
Highlights
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), belonging to the Asteraceae family, is the main leafy vegetable produced and consumed in the world, especially in the form of salads (Sala & Costa, 2012)
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of calcium nitrate enrichment in saline nutrient solution on two lettuce cultivars grown in coconut fiber
Treatments resulted from the combination of two lettuce cultivars [‘Elba’ and ‘Irene’] with five nutrient solutions, being the nutritional solution standard following the recommendation of Furlani et al (1999) and the others salinized with sodium chloride
Summary
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), belonging to the Asteraceae family, is the main leafy vegetable produced and consumed in the world, especially in the form of salads (Sala & Costa, 2012). It is the most cultivated and adapted vegetable to the protected system, especially hydroponics, standing out for its short cycle, which allows faster return of the invested capital. Tolerance to salinity is variable among varieties and, even within a varieties, between growth stages. Tolerance to salinity is controlled by more than one gene and highly influenced by environmental factors 2005; Munns, 2005; Parida & Das, 2005)
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