Crescimento e desenvolvimento de mudas de alface em substrato à base de gongocomposto

Abstract

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is one of the main leafy crops grown in Brazil, however, in the northern region of the country, including the state of Amapá, production is limited due to unfavorable climatic conditions and the lack of tested cultivars. Furthermore, acquiring quality substrates for growing lettuce seedlings is a challenge, as commercial substrates are expensive. A promising alternative is the use of gongocompost, a nutrient-rich organic material produced from the decomposition of organic waste with the help of millipedes. This work aims to evaluate the influence of different proportions of gongocompost, mixed with soil, on the growth and development of lettuce cultivar seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Instituto Federal do Amapá, Porto campus. The experimental design used was randomized blocks (DBC) in a 5 x 3 factorial scheme, with five proportions of gongocomposite (M1 = 20%, M2 = 40%, M3 = 60%, M4 = 80%, M5 = 100%) and three lettuce cultivars (Gabriela, BRS Leila and BRS Mediterrânea), with 10 plants per plot. Data collection was carried out 30 days after sowing, the variables analyzed were: Definitive leaves (DF), root length (CR), plant height (AP), total fresh mass (MFT), fresh mass of the aerial part (MFPA), fresh root mass (MFR), total dry mass (MST), shoot dry mass (MSPA) and root dry mass (MSR). The cultivars showed differences (p>0.05 and p>0.01) for AP, CR and MSPA. The proportions of gongocompound showed differences (p>0.05 and p>0.01) for all variables, with the exception of MSR and MST. The Gabriela cultivar has higher AP and the BRS Leila cultivar has higher MSPA. The proportions M4 and M5 provide the highest values in the biometric variables, in the fresh and dry mass of lettuce seedlings.