EFFECT OF MULCHES AND IRRIGATION ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF LETTUCE IN SEMI-ARID REGION

• Adetunji, I. A.

  Crop Science Department University of Maiduguri

Abstract

To optimize the utilization of irrigation water for dry season lettuce production in the semiarid region; sawdust, millet stover and groundnut shell mulches were applied under three irrigation frequencies (3, 7 and 11 day intervals). Mulching reduced the day time temperature and conserved soil moisture content. Growth and yield attributes of lettuce were significantly higher under groundnut shell and millet stover mulches than in sawdust mulch and control. Irrigating at 7 day interval is more economical, while soil temperature above 25℃ is deleterious to the normal growth and yield of lettuce. The result further suggests that lettuce requires a soil moisture content corresponding to at least 60% plant available water in the 12cm of soil for optimum yield and this can be provided with about half of the amount of water with mulching than without mulching.

Journal

• BIOTRONICS

  BIOTRONICS 19 93-98, 1990-12

  Biotron Institute, Kyushu University

Keywords

• Lactuca sativa L.
• semi-arid region
• mulching
• irrigation
• growth
• yield

Details

• CRID: 1050017057726243072
• NII Article ID: 110006175735
• NII Book ID: AA00110208
• HANDLE: 2324/8165
• Text Lang: en
• Article Type: departmental bulletin paper
• Data Source:
  • IRDB
  • CiNii Articles