PRODUCTION OF LETTUCE UNDER GREEN MANURING WITH Calotropis procera IN TWO CULTIVATION SEASONS

• Autor(a) principal: Souza, Ênio Gomes Flôr
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Lima, Edson Ferreira de, Barros Júnior, Aurélio Paes, Silveira, Lindomar Maria da, Bezerra Neto, Francisco, Cruz, Ellen Abreu da
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Caatinga
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufersa.edu.br/caatinga/article/view/5327
• topic: Lactuca sativa L.. Roostertree. Organic cropping.; Lactuca sativa L.. Flor-de-seda. Cultivo orgânico.

The production of vegetable crops is characterized by intensive land use, high input demands and the requirement of strategic management adoption with an agro-ecological approach. In this study, agronomic indicators were evaluated in lettuce fertilized with different amounts of roostertree biomass; fertilizer was incorporated into the soil at distinct times and seedlings were planted in two cropping seasons (spring and autumn-winter) in Serra Talhada, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The experimental design consisted of randomized complete blocks with three replications and treatments arranged in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme. The first factor was the amounts of roostertree biomass (5.4, 8.8, 12.2, and 15.6 t ha-1 on a dry basis) and the second the manure incorporation times (0, 10, 20, and 30 days before lettuce transplanting). The variables evaluated in the lettuce crop were: plant height and diameter, number of leaves per plant, productivity of green mass, and dry shoot mass. Maximum productivity and dry shoot mass were obtained using fertilization with 15.6 t ha-1. A synchrony between supply of nutrients by green manure and the period of maximum demand by lettuce was observed in the incorporation times of 10 (spring) and 20 (autumn-winter) days before transplanting. Cultivation in the spring resulted in higher vegetative growth.