Efeito da adubação com esterco de peru na produção da alface e da rúcula

Abstract

Lettuce and arugula stand out among the main leafy vegetables cultivated in Brazil, presenting rapid vegetative growth and high nutritional demand. In this context, organic fertilization emerges as a sustainable alternative for nutrient supply and the utilization of agricultural residues. Turkey manure presents high agronomic potential due to its elevated concentration of nutrients, especially nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of turkey manure on the production of lettuce and arugula crops. The experiment was conducted at the Campus of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences of the Federal University of Alagoas, located in Rio Largo, Alagoas, Brazil. Lettuce was cultivated in bags containing previously prepared soil, using doses of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 g of turkey manure per plant. For arugula, doses of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 g per plant were used, and the seedlings were cultivated in a previously prepared seedbed, adopting spacing of 20 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants. On the day of seedling transplanting, ⅔ of the total turkey manure dose planned for each treatment was applied. Subsequently, at 25 days after transplanting, topdressing fertilization was performed by applying the remaining 1/3 of the doses for both crops. After harvest, the variables fresh mass and dry mass of the shoot were evaluated. Data were subjected to regression analysis, considering the doses as the independent variable. In lettuce, a quadratic behavior was observed, with the highest yields obtained at the doses of 20 g and 40 g of turkey manure per plant and reductions at higher doses. The estimated optimum doses were 26.1 g for fresh mass and 32.58 g for dry mass. In arugula, a positive linear response was observed, with a progressive increase in production as the applied doses increased. The results demonstrated that turkey manure positively influenced crop production. Therefore, turkey manure proved to be an effective option for the organic fertilization of these leafy vegetables, contributing to shoot production and the sustainable use of organic residues in agriculture.