Abstract

GABRIEL ORTEGA, Julio; PINEDA VASQUEZ, María Fernanda; BURGOS LOPEZ, Gema  and  MORAN MORAN, Jessica. Fertigation in mulched fields for the Starfighter lettuce cultivar. An alternative to consider. J. Selva Andina Biosph. [online]. 2025, vol.13, n.2, pp.118-128.  Epub Nov 30, 2025. ISSN 2308-3867.  https://doi.org/10.36610/j.jsabs.20252290.

In order to analyze the response of the Starfighter lettuce cultivar to fertigation in mulched field, an experimental field plot was implemented. The 3 treatments were in an experimental design of completely randomized blocks (T1 medium fertigation, T2 high fertigation, T3 basic fertigation, as the farmer is accustomed to), and 4 replications. The effect of transplant time was blocked. Analyses of variance and means using Tukey at 5 % were performed using the technique of repeated measures over time. Each experimental unit consisted of 40 plants planted in 4 rows at 0.20 m between plants and 1.80 m between platforms. The 20 plants in the center rows were evaluated. The response variables were: plant height, number of leaves, head diameter, percentage of leaf area, root length, plant weight and flavor. The results refer to the best response expressed by fertigation T2, with an average of 25 leaves, a percentage of leaf area of 59.95 %, head diameter 22.59 cm and weight 184 g per plant, in relation to T3 (control). The leaves in the 3 treatments were fresh and did not present spiciness. The use of mulching, drip irrigation and fertigation in the improvement of the production of the Starfighter cultivar was notorious, which did not have any attack of pests or diseases.

Keywords : Root size; leaf quality; freshness; plant weight; pungent flavor.

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