Growth rate and quality of the seedlings of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) for the organic horticulture
2003
Magnani, G. | Botrini, L. | Graifenberg, A. (Pisa Univ. (Italy). Dipartimento di Biologia delle Piante Agrarie)
Growth rate and qualitative characteristics of three vegetables - lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata (L.) Janchen), cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L.) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L.) - seedlings grown with a organic method were evaluated. Organic method consisted of cocopeat used as growth medium and the fertigation done with organic fertilizer. This method was compared with a traditional one, based on peat growth medium and synthetic fertilizers for the fertigation. The results showed different responses among the vegetables, regarding growth rate and quality. Lettuce grown with organic method presented an increase of growth rate, fresh weight, leaf number and area, height, root/shoot ratio and nutrient content, compared to the traditional method. On the contrary, the cabbage and cauliflower, grown with organic method, showed a reduction of growth rate, dry and fresh weight, leaf number and area, chlorophyll content, height and nutrient content. Probably, different response among these species could be related to the length of the nursery cycle, that is longer for cabbage (higher production of dry matter) and shorter for lettuce. Moreover, the leaf uptake of nutrients in lettuce was easier than in cabbage, because of different characteristics of leaves
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