Efecto de la aplicación de calcio en la producción en el cultivo de lechuga (Lactuca sativa)

Abstract

Calcium deficiency in lettuce production is a metabolic failure that is not related to any pathogenic organism such as pests, fungi or bacteria. In the present work, the use of calcium-based fertilizers was evaluated in order to know with which product and dosage the lettuce crop will obtain better quality. Two products were evaluated: Cálix (P1) and Profol (P2); each with four different doses. The treatments were as follows: P1D1 (Cálix dose 0.5ml/L), P1D2 (Cálix dose 1.0 ml/L), P1D3 (Cálix dose 1.5ml/L), P1D0 (no application), P2D1 (Profol dose 1.0 ml/L), P2D2 (Cálix dose 1.5 ml/L), P2D3 (Cálix dose 2.0 ml/L), and P2D0 (no application). The experimental design used was completely randomized blocks with three replications, and the variables evaluated were plant height, cabbage weight, cabbage hardness and yield, with data taken at harvest time. In all the variables evaluated, the treatment that stood out was P1D3, with the following averages for the corresponding variables: plant height 22.54 cm; cabbage weight 2.46 kg; hardness 22.37 psi; and yield of 20497.23 kg/ha respectively. Through the research work, it was possible to determine whether there is an interaction between calcium-based fertilizers and the doses applied to the lettuce crop