INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF LETTUCE (Lactuca saliva L.)

Abstract

An exJ)crillicnt was conducted at the Farm of Slier-c- Baugla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during November 2007 to February 2008 to study the growth and yield of lettuce as influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus. The experiment consist of two factors; viz, four levels of nitrogen (N 0 0 kg N/ha, N 1 =l 10 kg N/ha, N 2 = 160 kg N/ha, N 3 -210 kg N/ha) and four levels of phosphorus (P 0 =0 kg P/ha, 1 11 -75 kg P/ha, P2 —100 kg P/ha, P 3 -125 kg P/ha).The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (ItCI3D) with three replications. In case nitrogen N 3 perfonned maxituwn plant height, number of leaves, leaf yield per plant (393.28 g), yield per hcctare (39.39 (Jha) and minimum was recorded from control. In case of phosphorus tallest plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf yield per plant (385.35 g), yield per hectare (38.57 i/ha) was recorded from P 3 and minimum was recorded from control. Among different treatment combinations N 2P3 contributed the highest (38.09 1/ha) yield. The highest (2.24) benefit cost ratio was obtained from the treatment combination of N2 P1 and the lowest benefit cost ratio(I.46) was recorded from control. So. 160 kg N/ha with 125 kg P/ha of fertilizer was the best combination for lettuce production.