Agro-economic yield of three varieties of lettuce, cultivated with and without hilling

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the productive behavior of three varieties of lettuce (Cinderella - crisp type, Rafaela - American type and Elisabeth - looseleaf type), which were cultivated with and without hilling, in Dourados-MS environmental conditions. Treatments were arranged as 3 x 2 factorial scheme, in a randomized experimental block design, with five replications. On 77 days after sowing harvest was done. Number, height and diameter of lettuce "heads", as well fresh mass of commercial and non-commercial "heads" were influenced significantly by interaction of varieties and of cultivation with and without hilling. Rafaela lettuce showed the greatest yield, under hilling, except to number of non-commercial "heads", which were the smallest and related inversely with the number of commercial "heads". Yield costs of cultivated lettuce, with or without hilling, were R$ 4,936.99 ha^-1 and R$ 4,467.06 ha^-1, respectively. In the conditions that the experiment was carried out, the greatest net income (R$ 38,827.51 ha^-1 and R$ 35,397.44 ha^-1, with and without hilling, respectively) were obtained with Rafaela lettuce, in relation to Cinderella and Elisabeth lettuces, in every studied ways of cultivation. The hilling induced greater net incomes in every studied variety of lettuce. It was concluded that in order to obtain the greatest yield of commercial lettuce "heads" and the greatest net income, it must opt by to cultivate Rafaela variety and to utilize of hilling as cultural treat.