Potential of vermitea and SNAP as nutrient solution for lettuce (Lactuca sativa) under non-circulating hydroponics system

The present study was carried out to evaluate potential of vermitea and simple nutrient addition programme (SNAP) on the growth performance and profitability of lettuce production. Gathered, organized and tabulated data were analyzed through completely randomized design (CRD) programmed Microsoft Excel. Three hundred fifteen (315) lettuce plants were used in the study and distributed in fifteen experimental units with each replicate having seven treatments viz T₁ [100% SNAP (Control)], T₂ (25% SNAP + 40 ml/l vermitea), T₃ (25% SNAP + 30 ml/l vermitea), T₄ (25% SNAP + 20 ml/l vermitea), T₅ (40 ml/l vermitea), T₆ (30 ml/l vermitea) and T₇ (20 ml/l vermitea). The type of fertilizer solutions used had a substantial impact on the plant growth parameters. With a mean of 10.30, lettuce grown in 100 per cent SNAP solution produced the maximum number of leaves. This treatment also resulted in highest leaf length of 16.77 cm which was at par with the treatment 25 per cent SNAP + 40 ml per l vermitea (14.30 cm). The treatment 100 per cent SNAP solution produced largest canopy measuring 24.50 cm and highest plant weight of 51.23 g.