Influence of initial substrates and composts on growth and yield of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Veselina Vasileva, Ana Katsarova, Mariana Hristova, Ivanka Mitova, Nikolai Dinev

Abstract: To ensure environmental sustainability of crop production, there is currently a growing interest in exploring the benefits and opportunities in the usage of organic amendments, аs an alternative to mineral fertilization. Organic fertilization can enhance plant nutrition, increase yields and quality, protect soil fertility. The use of test cultures allows an adequate rapid response to changes in plant nutrition. They aim to optimize plant nutrition, increase yields and product quality, protect soil fertility. The use of test cultures allows an adequate rapid response to changes in diet. Lettuce is a crop with short vegetation and intensively absorbs nutrients from the soil. She reacted positively to both mineral and organic fertilization. The experiment was carried out under controlled conditions with lettuce grown on Leached Cinnamon Forest Soil (Chromic Luvisol). The influence of 6 organic soil organic amendments on plant growth and yield was tested. These include ready-made vermicompost compost and initial substrates - manure, sludge, straw in different maturation periods. In the variants with the highest potassium content in the soil after composting - compost from California worms and fresh manure, the highest yield of lettuce was reported (189.48 g and 188.52 g, respectively). A positive correlation was found between the content of K2O in the soil and the reported yield of lettuce (R2 = 0.4109).

Keywords: california worms; compost; manure; sludge

Date published: 2021-10-28