An investigation was conducted at CPCT, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi in 2022 to 23 to study the impact of soil and soilless media on lettuce cultivars. The study used a factorial randomized block design with 3 replications. Various agro morphological and yield parameters were analyzed for different lettuce genotypes. The results showed that lettuce grown in soil media had better outcomes, except for root length and weight, which were higher in soilless media. Among the varieties, V9 (Lollo Rossa) performed well, while V12 (Red Rose) performed poorly in leafy types. Concerning head types, V16 (Great Lakes) performed well, while V15 (Butterhead Green) performed poorly. Regarding economics, the cost of cultivation was consistent across all cultivars. However, V9 (Lollo Rossa) had the highest gross income, net returns, and benefit-cost ratio for leafy types, while V12 (Red Rose) had the lowest. Among the head types, V16 (Great Lakes) had the highest gross income, net returns, and benefit-cost ratio, while V15 (Butterhead Green) had the lowest. Soilless media resulted in higher cultivation expenses and lower gross income, net returns, and benefit-cost ratio than soil-based cultivation. In conclusion, Lettuce production has been determined to thrive best in soil, making it the most suitable medium for cultivation.
R. Y. Thushal, Awani Kumar Singh, G. S. Jat et al.· Annales Horticulturae· 0 citations
The investigation was conducted at the Centre for Protected Cultivation and Technology (CPCT), ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi from 2022 to 23 to study the effects of different types of growing media on the biochemical composition of lettuce cultivars in protected conditions. It was laid in a factorial randomized block design with 3 replications. The findings of the investigation revealed that the choice of growing media significantly influenced the biochemical composition of lettuce cultivars. Soil media generally resulted in higher levels of total soluble solids, antioxidant activity, respiration rate, moisture content, chlorophyll content, and ascorbic acid content. On the other hand, soilless media performed better in terms of total carotenoid content. These findings highlight the need for proper nutrient management strategies to maximize crop yield and nutritional value. By understanding the influence of growing media on nutrient availability, farmers can implement targeted fertilization for their crops. Moreover, the study also considered the economic aspects of lettuce cultivation. It was found that soil despite providing higher yield and better-quality lettuce, required more resources and labor than soilless media. This suggests that farmers should carefully weigh the economic costs and benefits of their choice of growing media. The study provides valuable insights into the impact of growing media on lettuce cultivation. It prioritizes the need for careful selection of growing media to optimize lettuce yield and nutritional value. Additionally, it highlights the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and nutrient management in enhancing crop quality and promoting environmental sustainability.
R. Y. Thushal, Awani Kumar Singh, G. S. Jat et al.· Annales Horticulturae· 0 citations
