Effects of Azolla microphylla in medias on growth and yield of lettuce

Abstract

Azolla is a small aquatic fern known for its high nitrogen content, making it a valuable choice for use as green manure. This study aimed to assess the optimal application rate of dried Azolla in a soil mixture to promote the growth and yield of lettuce in containers. The experiment followed a 2x6 factorial design in a completely randomized design (CRD), considering two factors: 1) Lettuce types, green cosmos and butterhead cultivars, and 2) The application rate of dried Azolla in the soil mixture. This was compared to a single treatment using manure. Results showed that green cos lettuce exhibited greater plant height growth than butterhead lettuce, while butterhead lettuce had a higher number of leaves compared to green cos lettuce. However, there was no significant difference in yield between the two lettuce varieties. Regarding the use of dried Azolla for lettuce growth, it was determined that the application of dried Azolla as a soil mix resulted in the best growth and yield for both lettuce cultivars. The highest growth and yield were observed with 5 % dried Azolla, followed by 4 % dried Azolla, while the lowest growth and yield were associated with 1 % dried Azolla. These findings were consistent with nutrient analysis results, which indicated that the nutrient requirements for growth were minimal. When compared to other methods, the most suitable ratio for growing lettuce was found to be 5 % dried Azolla or 5 kg of dried Azolla per 100 kg of planting material.