Response of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants to replacement of mineral fertilizers to substituted for compost tea

Abstract

Background: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a widely cultivated leafy vegetable belonging to the Asteraceae family Growth, productivity and quality of lettuce plants

Objectives: (Lactuca sativa L.) were evaluated under circumstances of depending on "compost tea", "compost tea + molasses" and "compost tea + bacterial inoculation" as sources for fertilization compared to mineral fertilizers.

Methods: The experiment was conducted at Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Dokki, Giza. Seedlings of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. c.v Iceberg) were transplanted at the 15^th of October through 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons.

Results: Obtained results confirmed the ability of "compost tea + bacterial inoculation" followed by "compost tea + molasses" and then chemical fertilizer ranked in the third order as a sole fertilizer for lettuce to enhance plant height, number of leaves per head, head length, head diameter, SPAD reading, head volume, average head weight, total heads yield/m² and content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) in leaves. While, reduced nitrate content in leaves.

Conclusion: Applied "compost tea + bacterial inoculation" and "compost tea + molasses" can considered as one of ways to replacement of mineral fertilizers