Lettuce crop fertilized with organomineral source of phosphorus and micronutrients

Cultivo de alface sob diferentes doses de organomineral como fonte de fósforo e micronutrientes

ABSTRACT

The use of organomineral fertilizers (OF) in the cultivation of vegetables has been considered a promising technology to provide nutrients gradually. The OFs can reduce the phosphorous (P) soil adsorption and leaching of nitrogen and potassium with the supply of some micronutrients. This study aimed to evaluate doses of OF as a source of P and micronutrients (boron and zinc) for curly lettuce cultivation. Five OF doses were evaluated: T1 = 0% (no P₂O₅ fertilization); T2 = 50% (75 mg/dm³ of P₂O₅); T3 = 100% (150 mg/dm³ of P₂O₅); T4 = 150% (225 mg/dm³ of P₂O₅); T5 = 200% (300 mg/dm³ of P₂O₅) of the lettuce recommended fertilization; T6 = 100% mineral fertilizer (MF) (150 mg/dm³ of P₂O₅). The fresh (FM) and dry mass (DM) of the lettuce shoot (aerial part), the soil nutrient level, and the plant nutritional status at harvest were evaluated. We observed that (i) the doses of 225 and 300 mg/dm³ of P₂O₅ via OF provided the same availability of P in the soil as the dose of 150 mg/dm³ of P₂O₅ of MF; (ii) the doses of 225 and 300 mg/dm³ of P₂O₅ of OF provided higher levels of soil boron and zinc compared to other treatments and (iii) the MF fertilization was more efficient than that of OF in the production of curly lettuce in a protected environment.

Keywords:
Lactuca sativa; mineral fertilization; soil fertility; crop productivity