Sadhana Debi-Tewarie BSc. |
The research
of her study project was an evaluation of different mediums and technics
for the production of fresh lettuce. She chooses to grow the fresh lettuce
in greenhouses instead of outside to promote the potential of greenhouses for
fresh vegetables. During May- September 2012, she received assistance
from Stanley Oosthuizen IICA’s Agricultural Technology and Extension Specialist
to set up a drip irrigation system for lettuce experiments in different
greenhouse structures. Due to avoid
climate change effects and to control/ monitor the environment and grow of
vegetables in tropical countries, earlier analyses and studies have shown that
greenhouses are best practices in many countries in the world. Benefits of
growing in a greenhouse are irrigation control, no water waist, efficient
fertilizer incorporation, better pest control, clean vegetables, higher yield
and less use of chemical pesticides.
The
objective of this survey was to analyze the production of lettuce in a
greenhouse and the following aspects were examined: the effects of varieties,
fertilizers and cultivation technics. Lettuce in containers with drip irrigation |
Sub- irrigation planter in 1.5 L PET bottles |
The used growing technics were plant containers and 1.5 L PET bottles with controlled irrigation systems (drip irrigation and sub –irrigation planter).
The sub-irrigation planter method is cheaper and environment friendly, because PET bottles are re-used. This method is simple and can be practice by anyone. The profit is higher compare to growing in containers with drip irrigation, because the quantity of lettuces for each square meter is twice more and the investment is very low.
Lettuce in containers with a drip irrigation system
|
Planting in containers is also a simple construction except the drip irrigation which is expensive and depends on energy(power). The produced kg lettuce for each square meter is twice more compare to the sub-irrigated planter. On the other side this method cannot be used in places where energy is not available such as interior and rural areas.
The overall conclusion of this experiment is that growing lettuce is containers have significant higher yields compare to sub-irrigated planter, but related to money and investment the plant irrigated system is more profitable.
The sub-irrigated plant system can be used by everyone and everywhere. It will help us to clean the environment by re-using plastic bottles.
Do you want to try the 1.5 L PET bottles as sub-irrigation planter at home ? Any question... post on my blog!
Sadhana :)