TURNOS DE REGA E DOSES DE HIDROGEL NO CULTIVO DA ALFACE AMERICANA

Abstract

Efficient water management is one of the main challenges in the cultivation of iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), a vegetable crop of great economic importance whose shallow root system makes it vulnerable to water stress. This study aimed to investigate the growth and yield response of iceberg lettuce as a function of different irrigation schedules (IR) and the application of hydrogel. To this end, an open-field experiment was conducted at IF Goiano - Campus Urutaí, using a randomized block design in a 4x4 factorial arrangement. The treatments consisted of the combination of four irrigation schedules (1, 2, 3, and 4 days) and four hydrogel doses (0, 25, 50, and 75 g). The biometric variables analyzed were height, number of leaves, diameter, and fresh weight of the aerial part. Statistical analysis did not detect a significant effect of any of the isolated factors, nor of the interaction between them, on the growth and yield variables. The lack of agronomic response can be attributed to the occurrence of precipitation during the experimental cycle, which standardized soil moisture conditions across treatments. It is concluded that, under the specific edaphoclimatic conditions of this study, the tested strategies did not result in improved iceberg lettuce yield.