Yield and postharvest quality of winter growing crisphead lettuce as affected by doses of nitrogen and molybdenum

Abstract

The trial was carried out at Três Pontas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from April to July 2003, to evaluate the influence of nitrogen and molybdenum rates on productive characteristics and postharvest quality of crisphead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Treatments were a factorial combination of four nitrogen rates (0.0; 60.0; 120.0 and 180.0 kg ha-1) applied in additional the dose commonly used by growers (60 kg ha-1 of N) and five foliar molybdenum rates (0.0; 35.1; 70.2; 105.3 and 140.4 g ha-1). The total and commercial fresh weight and head circumference showed significant effects for doses of nitrogen and of molybdenum, as well as for their interaction. No significant effects of the treatments for stem length were observed. There was a linear effect of N and Mo doses for postharvest conservation at 28 days, and the rate of 150.0 kg ha-1 of N showed the best conservation at 35 days after the harvest. The percentage of dry matter showed quadratic effects, and the doses of 95.9 kg ha-1 of N and 75.3 kg ha-1 of Mo showed the highest return.