Open AccessEffect of potting media on the growth and leaf yield of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in Agbani, Nkanu west, Enugu state, Nigeria.
Author(s) -
Okechukwu G.C.E.,
O. E. Ngwu,
S U Awere,
C O Ezike
Publication year - 2021
Language(s) - English
DOI - 10.36265/jonages.2021.010201
Subject(s) - lactuca , potting , sawdust , agronomy , yield (engineering) , horticulture , agriculture , hydroponics , coir , crop , environmental science , mathematics , biology , engineering , materials science , ecology , metallurgy , embedded system
Agricultural by–products have been found useful in solilless crop production as a means to sustainability because it maximally utilizes available resources. Four growth media; coconut fiber, rice mill waste, sawdust and soil (control) were used to determine the effect of the growth and leaf yield of lettuce in the high-tunnel of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, Enugu State University of Science and Technology during 2015 cropping season. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) replicated six (6)times. The data collected revealed that coconut fiber significantly enhance lettuce growth, in terms of plant height, number of leaves, plant girth, leaf area index and fresh weight of the plant. Sawdust had no appreciable effect on most of the parameters taken, but coconut fiber produced greater yield when compared with rice mill waste. However, among various combinations, coconut fiber produced maximum yield and will fit well as a soilless medium for lettuce growth and production.