Effect of Various Rates of P from Alternative and Traditional Sources on Butterhead Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) Grown on Peat Substrate

Anna Jama-Rodzeńska, Piotr Chochura, Bernard Gałka, Anna Szuba-Trznadel, Zlatko Svecnjak and Dragana Latkovic
Additional contact information
Anna Jama-Rodzeńska: Faculty of Life Sciences and Tevchnology, Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-363 Wroclaw, Poland
Piotr Chochura: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-363 Wroclaw, Poland
Bernard Gałka: Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Institute of Soil Science and Environmental Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-363 Wroclaw, Poland
Anna Szuba-Trznadel: Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Management, Faculty of Biology and Animal Science, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
Zlatko Svecnjak: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Dragana Latkovic: Department of Field and Vegetable Crops, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Previous research indicated the potential use of struvite (STR) as an alternative source of phosphorus (P) in crop production. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of STR and triple superphosphate (TSP) on the growth and chemical composition of butterhead lettuce grown on peat substrate over a three-month period (May–July). Both alternative (STR) and conventional (TSP) fertilizers were applied at three rates: (1) recommended rate based on the elemental content of substrate and crop nutritional need; (2) reduced rate (50% lower than recommended); and (3) increased rate (50% higher than recommended). Unfertilized (control) plants were also grown in the pot experiment. As expected, fertilizer application tended to increase the content of heavy metals in the substrate. Thus, an increase in Zn, Pb, and Cu content in peat substrate was found following STR amendments. However, compared with unfertilized plants, the applied rates of the STR and TSP fertilizers did not increase the content of Cd and Cu in the plant leaf, while Hg content was below the detection limit. In addition, Zn content in the plant leaf significantly decreased following STR and TSP applications. In comparison to unfertilized plants, both alternative and conventional fertilizers increased the content of P and nitrate nitrogen (N-NO 3 − ) in the plant leaf while their effect on Mg content was negligible. The increased rate of STR was the best fertilizer treatment because it produced the largest number of leaves, which were also characterized by the highest P content. Our findings showed that STR was an effective source of P in butterhead lettuce cultivation without adverse effects on heavy metal accumulation.

Keywords: peat; sewage sludge; struvite; superphosphate; P uptake; P content; Mg content; Mg uptake; heavy metals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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