PJB-2021-746
PERFORMANCE OF EXOTIC LETTUCE CULTIVARS UNDER DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Afrasiab Khan
Abstract
ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to study the “Performance of exotic lettuce cultivars under different environmental conditions†at the Ornamental Horticultural Nursery, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during the year 2019-2020. The experiment was laid out using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two factors in a split-plot arrangement. Seeds of different cultivars were grown in module trays for nursery rising. The seedlings were transplanted at three to four leaves stage to the 9×12-inch plastic bags, filled with media composed of silt, leaf manure and animal manure at 2:1:1 ratio respectively. The plants were then placed into two different environments i.e. shade house (with 50% shade) and open field maintaining row to row distance 40 cm and plant to plant distance 30 cm. Six lettuces cultivars i.e. Iceberg, Milky White, Red Laurel, Wrapped Lettuce, Large Speed and Red Oak-leaf were grown in both the environments. Various growth and production parameters were studied during the experiment. The results showed that the environmental conditions had significant effects on the growth and development of lettuce cultivars. Concerning the environments, maximum head diameter (36.8 cm), head height (25.9 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (24.9), leaf fresh weight plant-1 (176.2 g), leaf dry weight plant-1 (11.0g), leaf area (690.8 cm), root length (31.5 cm), root fresh weight (10.5 g), root dry weight (4.4 g), head yield ha-1 (16.13 tons) and seed yield ha-1 (830.1 Kg) and minimum days to flowering (103.6) and days to seed production (125.5) were observed in plants grown in the open field. In the case of cultivars, maximum germination percentage (97.3) was recorded for Cv. Red Oak-leaf, maximum number of leaves plant-1 (23.3), leaf fresh weight plant-1 (170.4g), leaf dry weight plant-1 (11.0g), leaf area (711.3 cm2) and head yield ha-1 (15.20 tons) were produced by the Cv. Wrapped Lettuce. Maximum head height (28.8 cm), root fresh weight (10.9 g), and root dry weight (4.4 g) were produced by Cv. Milky White and maximum head diameter (40.2 cm), head yield ha-1 (14.5 tons) and seed yield ha-1 (1079.6kg) were recorded in Cv. Red Laurel. Moreover, minimum days to flowering (100.7) and days to seeds production (123.2) were taken by Cv. Red Laurel. Based on the present study, it is concluded that in winter season lettuce crop should be grown in the open field for achieving maximum growth and yield. Cultivars Wrapped Lettuce, Iceberg and Red Laurel are recommended for better production and Cv. Red Oak-leaf its unique dark purple colour and taste.
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