Lettuce is the most popular salad crop and has great commercial importance; It was first cultivated in ancient Egypt. Before, Europe and North America were the major producers of lettuce; However, by the late 20th century, lettuce production and consumption had spread worldwide. Currently, China is the leading producer of lettuce globally, followed by the United States. The demand for lettuce is increasing very fast. The restaurant industry is booming as the young generation of the country prefers international cuisines like tacos, burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, spring rolls, etc., where lettuce is an integral part.
Procedure of Lettuce Farming
You need to know the crucial factor to help in profitable commercial lettuce farming when you start a plant to plant. We can provide relevant information related to more reliable tractors in lettuce farming. You can use the Eicher 241 tractor and many others, which aids in the whole process of lettuce cultivation. Here we are describing information about starting and operating successful lettuce farming.
Soil And Climate For Lettuce Cultivation
Ph about 6.0 and Well-drained fertile soil is best suitable for lettuce growth., It is moderately salt tolerant. Lettuce is a cool-season crop that requires an average air temperature of 10 – 20 °C. Cool nights are essential for good quality lettuce. Farmers mainly grow the lettuce in regions with cool summers and mild winters. On a large scale, lettuce is cultivated without soil hydroponic techniques or with the help of protective cultivation.
Seed Rate
Lettuce seeds are very delicate and thin – Farmers need about 325 grams to cultivate one hectare of lettuce. Plant the seedlings on the bed, since the seed is very fine. There are about 800 lettuce seeds in one gram.
Nursery Raising For Lettuce Cultivation
Prepare a nursery ready bed with well-decomposed FYM or compost mix at the rate of 4 kg/m2 with soil. Make nursery beds 30 cm high and 100 cm wide. Mix fertilizer, 100 g sulphate and 50 g thiamine on each bed and mix it in the soil of the bed. You should sow the lettuce seeds in rows at a distance of 5 cm between rows and 1.5-2 cm deep. Farmers should cover the seed with sand and FYM mixture. You prepare the plants for planting in about 21-28 days. To prevent diseases or pests, spray two sprayers with monocrotophos @ 1 ml and copper oxychloride @ 2 g/Ltr of water at an interval of 15 days.
Planting
Lettuce plants are ready for transplant in 4 to 5 weeks. Farmers should use the hard seeds before transplanting. Hardening is done by holding water for about 68 days. The seedlings are transplanted into flatbeds at a distance of 45 × 45 cm or 45 × 30 cm. You require about 66665 plants for cultivation in a one-hectare area.
Fertilizer Management In Lettuce Farming
The fertilizer application influences the growth and yield of lettuce. For lettuce cultivation, apply 25 kg nitrogen and potassium and 90 kg phosphorus per hectare in 150-200 quintals/ha of field manure. You should apply the 40-50 kg nitrogen and 75-100 kg phosphorus and potash per hectare in sandy and sandy loam soils without manure.
For good development on silt loam and clay loam soils, you can apply 50-75 kg of phosphorus and 25 kg nitrogen per hectare. However, fertilizing will depend on the availability of nutrients related to the required nutrients and the fertility status of the soil. You should apply about one-third to half of the amount of nitrogen at the time of sowing and the rest after thinning.
Irrigation Requirement
There are various irrigation systems, which consist of sprinkle irrigation, drip irrigation and also include furrow irrigation. For lettuce farming, light and frequent irrigation are more effective in high quality and yield. You should irrigate the crops at 8 to 10-day intervals after planting. Drip irrigation enhances the yield by about 30% over furrow irrigation.
Maturity And Harvesting
As soon as the plants reach an ideal size, lettuce harvesting begins, and firmness should complete before the leaves become tough and bitter. The crop’s maturity stage depends on the variety of lettuce and the purpose for which it is grown. In the head, lettuce for the market is allowed to grow to full size and develop a solid head, but it often harvested before the head is well-formed for home use. You can thin leaf lettuce plants several times, removing the giant leaves for use and leaving the smaller leaves to develop. Usually you can the lettuce with a long sharp knife and also you should carefully pack the lettuce in a thick cardboard box.
Need the Equipment in the Lettuce Cultivation
When you want to get information about lettuce farming, you should also know the tools that will help in increasing the yield. Rotavator, cultivator, and tractor are essential in lettuce farming. However, of all the equipment, the tractor is the most important. That’s why we recommend the Swaraj 742 tractor for lettuce cultivation in India.
For further information regarding lettuce farming in India, stay tuned with us.