EFFECTS OF MICRO-IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ON LETTUCE PRODUCTION

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential for producing high-value lettuce, grown in protected area, irrigated with micro-sprinkler and surface drip systems. The experiments were carried out in 2004-2006, in glass-covered solarium within the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. We utilized two irrigation method’s: drip irrigation and micro-sprinkler irrigation and three irrigation levels were established for each irrigation method. From the combination of the two irrigation method and the three times of watering resulted six experimental variants. Production of lettuce obtained at variants are presented in the following table. Water use efficiency was higher in case of drip irrigation in comparison to micro-sprinkler irrigation. The results obtained show the usefulness of drip irrigation in vegetable growing which considerably decreased water consumption and maintained proper moisture conditions for lettuce growth and yielding. Reducing irrigation had resulted in significant decrease of marketable yield. This was accompanied by a decrease in the crop water use, as a consequence of inadequate soil moisture in the rooting zone. Results also showed that water deficit reduced average fresh weight and dry matter of individual lettuces by an average varying between 20 to 30%. A significant reduction in the number of leaves per head was also obtained in the stressed treatments.