Effects of organic fertilizers on growth, yield, quality and sensory evaluation of red lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) ‘Veneza Roxa’

Abstract

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the widely used salad vegetable in Swaziland. However, there is a dearth of information pertaining to organic lettuce production. An experiment was conducted in a lath house at the Horticulture farm, Luyengo Campus of the University of Swaziland to assess the effects of organic fertilizers on yield and quality of lettuce grown in river sand. The organic fertilizers used were (a) bounce back compost, (b) cattle manure and(c) chicken manure. The rates of application were 40 tones per hectare (t/ha) for chicken and cattle manures, 1.5 t/ha basal dressing and 1.0 t/ha side dressing for bounce back compost. Inorganic fertilizers 2:3:2 (22) + 0.5 % zinc (Zn) and limestone ammonium nitrate (LAN 28%) were included at specific application rates of 955 kg/ha basal dressing and 100 kg/ha side dressing as control. The results showed that type of fertilizer applied significantly (P< 0.05) affected growth, yield and nutritional quality of lettuce. A trend in superiority of the different types of organic fertilizers was observed as the chicken manure exhibited relatively higher values on number of leaves, plant height, marketable yield and mean leaf dry mass. Cattle manure was second, and then bounce back compost and lastly the inorganic fertilizers. However, plants produced by bounce back compost were higher in calcium, iron and Zn contents on fresh mass basis while plants produced by cattle manure followed, and then inorganic fertilizers and lastly chicken manure. Organoleptic tests showed that there were no significant (P> 0.05) differences in appearance and taste among treatments. Results of this experiment showed that inorganic fertilizers were less suitable in lettuce production in river sand when compared to organic fertilizers. It is recommended that lettuce can be grown successfully using organic fertilizers.

Impact of Composting on Growth, Vitamin C and Calcium Content of Capsicum chinense

“…The type of fertilizer applied significantly affected growth, nutritional quality and yield of lettuce. Different types of organic fertilizers such as chicken manure, cattle manure and bounce back compost demonstrated relatively higher number of leaves, mean leaf dry mass, plant height and marketable yield than the inorganic fertilizers (Masarirambi et al, 2010). In contrast, Oyedeji (2014) discovered that growth parameters (plant height, stem girth, number of branches from one week after transplanting except number of leaves and leaf area) and yield parameters (protein, ash, crude fibre, lipid, carbohydrate, moisture) are higher in inorganic fertilizer application (nitrogen (N) + phosphorus (P) + potassium(K)) than the poultry manure application and the control.…”

The Effect of Biostimulant and Fertilizer on “Low Input” Lettuce Production

“…As far as we know, the possible application of these two preparations in the winter production of leafy vegetables, including lettuce has not been tested so far. As for the production of lettuce, it has been proven that organic fertilizers are more suitable than inorganic ones in lettuce cultivation in river sand (Masarirambi et al 2010), that toxic nitrate concentration in romaine-type lettuce increases after fertilization with sewage sludge (Castro et al 2009), and that mineral fertilization increases the nitrate concentration in the lettuce cultivar Mantecosa (Premuzic et al 2001).…”

Effects of Inorganic Fertilizer Application on Early Growth of Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn

“…Inorganic fertilizer has significantly supported global population growth, it has been estimated that almost half the people on the earth are currently fed as a result of artificial nitrogen fertilizer use [11]. Both commercial and subsistence farming have been and are still relying on the use of inorganic fertilizers for growing crops [12]. This is because they are easy to use, quickly absorbed and utilized by crops.…”

“…The continued dependence of developing countries on inorganic fertilizers has made prices of many agricultural commodities to skyrocket. The chemical fertilizers used in conventional agriculture contain just a few minerals which dissolve quickly in damp soil and give the plants large doses of minerals [12]. Therefore this research focused on the influence of various types of inorganic fertilizer on the early growth of Vitellaria paradoxa, shea butter seedlings at nursery stage.…”