Agronomic performance of organic lettuce crop influenced by shading, planting times, and tillage, in the state of Acre, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance of organic lettuce crop, under different levels of shading, planting times, and tillage, in the state of Acre, Brazil. For each lettuce cultivar evaluated, smooth (Baba de Verão) and curly (Vera), four experiments were established in environments with different levels of shading (greenhouse, 35%; screen, 50%; passion fruit trellis, 52%; and in full sun), in two growing seasons (dry and rainy). A randomized complete block design was used, with three tillage methods (no‑tillage, minimum tillage, and conventional tillage) and four replicates. Cultivation in greenhouse provides higher fresh matter mass and yield of 'Vera' lettuce, and similar performance to that observed under screen shade with minimum soil tillage, for both planting dates evaluated. Cultivation in full sun, under no‑tillage, provides higher fresh matter mass and yield of 'Vera' lettuce during the dry season. Shoot dry matter mass of the Baba de Verão and Vera cultivars is higher in cultivation in greenhouse, followed by cultivation under screen shade.