LETTUCE PRODUCTION
A Complete Guide
PROMOTING FARMING EXCELLENCE
By Dahlia Shumba 0717816552
Lettuce Production
Classification Family Asteraceae
Genus Lactuca
Species sativa
Soil requirements Soils Light – sandy loams
pH 5.5-6.0
Climatic Temperature 17-27ᵒC(Day temperature), 3-15⁰C (Night temperature)
requirements Time of planting Performs better in cool seasons, warmer season possible
Seed requirement Seeds/gram +/-600
Seeds/ha 300-500g
Spacing Interrow 40-50cm
Inrow 20-25cm
Plant population Minimum 40k
Maximum 60k
Varieties Crisphead/ Icebeerg Commander, Great lakes, Waikiki, Commandant
Fancy Coriole, Atlantis
Days to maturity 50-65days (Depends on variety)
Irrigation 25-30mm/week Frequent light irrigation is recommended
Fertilisation
Application Fertiliser Composition Rate/plant N P K Remarks
Basal Compound C 5 : 15 : 12 16 0.8 2.4 1.9 At planting
Potassium nitrate 13 : 0 : 46 4 0.5 1.8 Split apply
Total nutrients (soil applied in kg) 1.3 2.4 3.76
Foliar spray Apex 10 Fulvic & Humic 2ltr Apply at week 2
Wuxal macromix 16 : 16 : 12 1ltr Apply at week 4 & 6
Notes
1. Compound C- Should be applied before planting at 16g/plant in planting stations
2. Potassium nitrate- Split apply at week 2 & 4 at 2g/plant per application
3. Apex 10- Drench on plant stations at 160ml/16l at week 2
4. Wuxal macromix- foliar spray at 160g/16l at week 4 & 6
Point to note- Soil applied fertilisers complimented with foliar fertilisers will give the best results.
Never replace soil applied fertilisers with foliar fertilisers
Total fertiliser application = Rate/plant * Plant population (Divide by 1000 to convert to kgs)
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Insects
Biting and Chewing insects
Belong in the Lepidoptera and Coleoptera orders
They bite and chew the leaves causing patches and holes
Effective chemicals include Chlorpyrifos, Lambda cyhalothrin, Carbaryl, Deltamethrin, Flubendiamide,
Indoxacarb, Spinosad, Dichlorvos, Emamectin benzoate, Cartap
Beet armyworm Cutworms
Cabbage looper Diamond back moth
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Sap sucking insects
Belong to the Hemiptera order
They suck the plant sap causing leaf deformation
They also spread viral disease
Effective chemicals include Diazinon, Abamectin, Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, Dichlorvos, Emamectin
benzoate, Lufenuron, Acephate, Thiamethoxam
Aphids Bagrada bug
Whitefly Leafhopper
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Boring insects
Belong to the Diptera order
They bore and feed into the plant leaves causing poor leaf quality
Effective chemicals include Diazinon, Abamectin, Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, Dichlorvos, Emamectin
benzoate, Lufenuron, Acephate
Fungus knot Leafminer
Slugs →
Slug eat creating irregular shaped holes
They are mostly active at night during humid and
warm periods.
Sink shallow dishes filled with beer to attract and
drown the slugs
Remove all the weeds and debris in the field to
reduce infestation
Effective chemicals include Carbaryl, Dichlorvos
Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot (Pseudomonas/Xanthomonas) Damping off (Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium)
Symptoms: Black lesions on outer leaves surrounded by Symptoms: Sudden wilting on young seedlings
yellow discolouration on mature heads Control: Copper oxychloride, Metalaxyl
Control: Copper oxychloride, Acibenzolar-S-Methyl
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Anthracnoce (Microdochium spp) Leaf drop (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum)
Symptoms: Small water-soaked spots on outer leaves, Symptoms: Wilting of outside leaves spreading inwards
centres fall out of mature lesions giving the plant shot- until whole plant is affected
hole appearance Control: Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Chemlaxyl,
Control: Chlorothalonil, Tebuconazole, Difenoconazole,
Propiconazole
Septoria leaf spot (Septoria lactucae) Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum)
Symptoms: Small irregular shaped chlorotic spots on Symptoms: Infection in seedlings causes wilt, and in
oldest plants leaves which enlarge and turn brown and older plants it causes leaves to yellow, wilt and turn
dry out brown. The vascular system in the stem turns reddish-
Control: Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Chemlaxyl, brown. Plants are usually stunted and may fail to heart.
Chlorothalonil, Tebuconazole, Difenoconazole, Control: Benomyl, Copper oxychloride
Propiconazole
Grey mould (Botrytis cineria) Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum)
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Symptoms: Grey to brown mould affecting the lower Symptoms: White powdery fungal growth on both top
leaves especially those in contact with the ground. The and underside of old leaves
disease then progress to upper leaves and the stem base Control: Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Chemlaxyl,
causing wilting. Chlorothalonil, Tebuconazole, Difenoconazole,
Control: Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Chemlaxyl, Propiconazole
Chlorothalonil, Tebuconazole, Difenoconazole,
Propiconazole
Downey mildew (Bremia lactucae) Bottom rot (Rhizoctonia solani)
Symptoms: Chlorotic angular lesions on the topside of Symptoms: Small red to brown spots on lower leaves
the leaves and fluffy white growth underside of leaves especially on underside of midrib which may expand
Control: Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Chemlaxyl, causing the leaves to rot. Amber coloured liquid may
Cymoxanil, Chlorothalonil ooze from leaf lesions, stems may rot and head of lettuce
becoming slimy, brown and collapse
Control: Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Chemlaxyl,
Chlorothalonil, Tebuconazole, Difenoconazole,
Propiconazole
Program
Planting date Variety
Plant pop Area Spacing
Week after Age Date Activities Fertilisers/ m² Pesticides/ 16l Fungicides/ 16l Foliar sprays/
emergence knapsack knapsack 16l knapsack
Transplant Compound C 16g Lambda 16ml Copper 80g
Rotten manure 100g
1 7
2 14 PN(KNO₃) 2g Aceta + Ema 16ml Acomil 50g Apex 10 160ml
3 21 Weeding
4 28 PN(KNO₃) 2g Carbaryl 50g Orius 16ml Macromix 80ml
5 35
6 42 Abamectin 16ml Bravo 32ml Macromix 80ml
7 49
8 56 Dichlorvos 16ml Bravo 32ml
9 63
10 70 Dichlorvos 16ml Bravo 32ml
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