NITROGEN FERTIGATION AND HYDROGEL LEVELS FOR CULTIVATION OF LETTUCE SUBMITTED TO DRIP IRRIGATION - DOI: 10.13083/1414-3984.v22n05a07

Abstract

The search for a production system that optimizes the productive efficiency of plants is the subject of several studies, thus it is important to study the application of nitrogen and water to the soil for production of lettuce. The aim was to evaluate the lettuce crop, type “Mimosa Roxa”, submitted to the influence of nitrogen and hydrogel in Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico (Oxisol). The study was conducted at the Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (Federal University of Dourados Great), in Dourados, MS. A completely randomized split plot delineation was used with three blocks. Each plot consisted of six doses of nitrogen applied to the irrigation water (zero, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 kg ha-1 of N), and the subplots consisted of five levels of hydrogel applied to the soil (zero, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g m-2). Transplantation of seedlings to the garden occurred on July 15, 2013 and plants were harvested 53 days after transplanting. During the lettuce cycle, irrigation management was based on monitoring the water status of the soil using a soil moisture sensor. The variables evaluated were: number of leaves, diameter of shoot, stem diameter, fresh and dry mass of shoots and efficiency in water use. For data analysis, the analysis of variance and regression evaluations were conducted. It was concluded that doses of hydrogel linearly influence the efficiency of water use by lettuce. The fresh and dry weight of the shoots presented maximum values with the nitrogen doses of 123.04 and 118.51 kg ha-1, respectively.