Quality of lettuce seedlings depending on substrates with and without biofertilizer addition

The quality of lettuce seedlings depending on substrates and biofertilizer addition (at 6; 12 and 18 days after germination, under greenhouse conditions was evaluated. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized factorial scheme: 3 cultivars (Babdde-Ver ao, Grand Rapids and Great Lakes) x 3 substrates (washed sand, organic compost and commercial substrate Plantmax (R)) x 2 (with and without biofertilizer addition), with four replications. The evaluation was done on 24-day old seedlings through number of leaves, shoot height, root length, shoot dry mass and root dry mass. There was an isolated effect for cultivars and substrates with regard to the number of leaves and root length. There was Cultivars x Substrates interaction effect for shoot height, shoot dry mass and root dry mass. The best result was obtained with cultivar Grands Rapids grown in organic compost. There were no significant effects of biofertilizer addition with respect to the evaluated variables.