The Effects on Water Consumption and Some Growth Parameters of Different Level of Leonardite in Curly Leaf Salad (Lactuva sativa var. crispa)

Abstract

In the research, effects of Leonardite which is an important source of humic and fulvic acid applied in different levels on the basis of weight to soil on the water consumption and agricultural productivity in curly leaf salad (Lactuva sativa var. crispa) were evaluated. The study was carried out under the greenhouse conditions as a pot experiment. The soil used was clayey-loamy and the PE pots with 10 L volume were used in the experiment. The study was designed to test random blocks with 3 replications in 4 different treatments. The subjects were formed as L0: (Control), L5: (5% leonardite + 95% soil), L10: (10% leonardite + 90% soil) and L20: (20% leonardite + 80% soil). Plant water depletions were monitored by weighing the pots. The highest water consumption was achieved with 9.74 L for L0 control (non-leonardite applied potting soil), while it was lowest as 7.20 L for the L20. The effect of the Leonardite applied as different levels on the yield and some growth parameters were found statistically significant (P<0.05). The maximum head weight, head length and leaf number was obtained with 0.139 kg, 20.1 cm and 28 number from the control treatment, respectively. In the head diameter, the best result was recorded as 37.1 cm from L10 within the same statistical group. According to the findings, it can be said that Leonardite is more suitable for use as soil conditioner than organic fertilizer.