Effect of sowing dates on the growth and yield of lettuce (lactuca sativa l.)

Sowing time is one of the major factors affecting the yield of crop plants. Hence the optimum sowing time of cultivated crops needs to be investigated. A field experiment was conducted at the experimental area of the Department of Horticulture, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam during the year 2014-15 to analyze the effects of sowing dates on the growth and yield of lettuce. The experiment was designed according to randomized complete block design with three replications. The lettuce variety Butter head was planted in a well managed plot size of 2 m x 2 m (4 m2). Growth and yield parameters of lettuce were analyzed to six sowing dates (15th Sept, 1st Oct, 15 Oct, 1st Nov, 15th Nov and 1stDecember, 2014). The results showed that there were significant differences among various sowing dates at (P<0.05) probability level. The maximum plant height (31.65 cm) was observed at 15th November and 1st December sowing dates while the maximum number of leaves plant-1 (33.47, 30.80 and 30.04) was observed at 1st November, 15th November and 1st December sowing dates. Moreover, maximum marketable leaves plant-1 (25.03, 24.65 and 24.58) were determined at 1st November, 1st December and 15th November sowing dates. The fresh weight of leaves plant-1 (434.00 and 431.63) was observed at 1st October and 15th October, while highest yield kg ha-1 (20620, 20570 and 19870 kg) was obtained at 15th November, 1st December and 1st November, respectively. On the basis of findings of the current study, it was concluded that crop sown on 15th November and 1st December showed best performance and produced maximum values for most of the investigated traits.