Nutrient content and accumulation in mini lettuce as a function of fertigation management strategies

ABSTRACT Determining the amount of nutrients accumulated by crops is an important tool for defining the order in which nutrients are taken up and required. However, the order and amount of accumulated nutrients vary depending on the genetic characteristics of the cultivars, climatic conditions, fertilization, soil and management systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of irrigation management strategies and doses of nitrogen (N) fertigation on the content and accumulation of macro and micronutrients and the N use efficiency in mini romaine lettuce “Astorga” cultivated in a protected environment, in two consecutive crop cycles. The treatments consisted of three irrigation strategies: continuous irrigation (Cont), intermittent irrigation, with three fractions a day, at 1-hour intervals (Int1); intermittent irrigation, with three fractions a day, at 4-hour intervals (Int2) and two nitrogen doses (100 and 130 kg/ha N), in daily fertigation. Intermittent irrigation management strategies (Int1 and Int2) increased the contents and accumulation of dry matter and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Mn and Zn. The dose of 130 kg/ha N only increased the content and accumulation of P and Mn in the first and second cycles, respectively. In general, lettuce accumulated macronutrients in the following decreasing order: K>N>Ca>P>Mg>S, whereas micronutrients followed the order Fe>Mn>Zn>B>Cu. The treatments Int1, Int2 and 100 kg/ha N optimized the N use efficiency.