Effect of plant extracts in growth and nutrimental concentration of lettuce leaves ( Lactuca sativa)

The use of plant extracts as biostimulants is an alternative in agricultural production. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of foliar spraying of aqueous extracts of nopal ( Opuntia ficus-indica) and coriander ( Coriandrum sativum) on the growth and nutrient concentration of lettuce leaves. Thirty-day-old seedlings were sprayed with the treatments for 28 d, at seven-day intervals. Spraying of the extracts did not modify plant height or leaf number. The nopal extract increased the concentration of P, Fe and Zn; while the coriander extract increased the concentration of N, P, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, B and Zn. The evaluated plant extracts had no influence on growth, but did have an influence on the concentration of nutrients in lettuce leaves.