Abstract
The global increasing demand of lettuce is pushing farmers to boost their production through several technical means, including mulching and nitrogen fertilization. However, from an environmental protection perspective, the role of scientific research is to limit the excessive use of some chemical approaches. This research aims to evaluate the possible effects of two mulching films (black polyethylene, PE, and brown photoselective film, BF) and two treatments with a plant growth-promoting product, containing Trichoderma spp., (non-treated, - Control and treated with RYZO PEP UP, - TR), on the productive and qualitative traits of lettuce grown under four regimes of nitrogen (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha−1, N0, N30, N60, and N90, respectively). The marketable yield increased at higher nitrogen levels, but without differences between the N60 and N90 doses. The photoselective film elicited marketable yield, with an 8% increase over PE. N fertilization also improved photochemical efficiency (higher Soil Plant Analysis Development and chlorophyllous pigments biosynthesis), as well as antioxidant activities (lipophilic—LAA and hydrophilic—HAA) and bioactive compounds (phenols and total ascorbic acid—TAA). Interestingly, Trichoderma spp. had a positive effect on these qualitative parameters, especially when combined with mulching films, where the increase generated by PE-TR treatment over the all other treatments was 16.3% and 16.8% for LAA and HHA, respectively. In all treatments, the nitrate leaves content was consistently always within the legal limit imposed by the European community. Overall, although Trichoderma spp. did not engender a marked effect on yield, probably due to the short crop cycle, its positive effect on some quality traits is an interesting starting point for further research.
Highlights
Lettuce is the first fresh vegetable cultivated and commercialized in the world, especially in temperate and subtropical regions [1]
The nitrogen dose boosted the marketable yield that increased at the interaction between the three experimental factors was not detected
Trichoderma-based biostimulants results found demonstrate that there that wastheno effect toonTrichoderma-based rocket production, when treated by different. These response products could be species-specific, These results demonstrate that the response to Trichoderma-based related to the different duration of crop cycles
Summary
Lettuce is the first fresh vegetable cultivated and commercialized in the world, especially in temperate and subtropical regions [1]. Applying mulching films has pointed out several positive factors such as increase of soil temperature, moisture conservation, weeds and pests reduction, higher crop yields, and more efficient use of soil nutrients [3,4]. Black polyethylene plastic films are normally used, but the photoselective plastic films have gained important consideration. In several studies, these films have showed very convincing results and performance in terms of quality and quantity of crop yields [5,6,7]. The photoselective films block only the PAR, exploiting the useful part of solar radiation to heat or “cool” the soil, based on the optical properties of each film [8]
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