Preliminary studies on growth and fresh weight of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as affected by clay pot irrigation and spacing.
An experiment (Completely Randomized Design) was set up to determine the effects of Clay Pot Sub-surface Irrigation (CPSI) and spacing on the growth and fresh weight of lettuce (Lactuca sativa). The treatments were: CPSI with spacing; 15 x 15 cm, 20 x 20 cm and 30 x 30 cm. Control treatments were Watering Can Irrigation (WCI) with the same spacing as above. Treatments were replicated three times given a total of 18 experimental units. Eighteen large enamel basins of 50/20 cm (diameter/height) were filled with good topsoil and a clay pot buried neck deep in each of the basins. Seedlings were planted in all the eighteen basins. Five Hundred mL of wastewater was applied daily to plants in each container having either clay pot or watering can treatment. Plant height increased from 2.50 to 4.25 cm within 6 Weeks after Transplanting (WAT) under CPSI and only increased from 2.14 to 2.99 cm under WCI. The CPSI also supported better leave growth and fresh weight. The fresh weight of lettuce increased almost two fold under 15 x 15 cm spacing compared to 20 x 20 and 30 x 30 cm.
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University for Development Studies, P.O. Box TL 1882, Tamale, Ghana.
Abdul-Halim
AH
Abubakari
George
G
Nyarko
Sheila
S
Maalinyuur
D057914:Agricultural Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000077215:Clay; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D018545:Lactuca / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000077215:Clay