title: Improving Water Use Efficiency of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Using Phosphorous Fertilizers.
abstract: A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of phosphorous (P) fertilizers application to an alkaline calcareous soil on the water use efficiency (WUE) of lettuce cultivar "robinson" of iceberg type. Head fresh and dry weights, total water applied and WUE were affected significantly by the P fertilizer type and rate. P fertilizers addition induced a significant enhancement in the WUE and fresh and dry weights of the crop. A local phosphate rock (PR) applied directly was found to be inferior to the other types of P fertilizers (Mono ammonium phosphate (MAP), Single superphosphate (SSP), and Di ammonium phosphate ((DAP)). MAP fertilizer at 375 and 500 kg P2O5/ha application rates recorded the highest significant values of head fresh weight and WUE, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Horticulture and Field Crops, National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension (NCARE), PO Box (639), Baqa', 19381 Jordan.
authors.forename: Asad M F
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alkhader
authors.forename: Azmi M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abu Rayyan
keywords: Alkaline; Calcareous soil; Fresh and dry weights; Lactuca sativa L; Lettuce; Phosphate rock; Phosphorous; Water use efficiency