EFFECTS OF OXYFERTIGATION AND PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA ON GREENHOUSE LETTUCE GROWN IN PERLITE

This study was conducted in order to determine the effects of oxygen enrichment of nutrient solution coupled with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on soilless grown iceberg lettuce (cv. 'Papiro') production. Seeds were treated with Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas putida, P. fluorescens, P. punonensis and combined application of B. subtilis + P. fluorescens and were sown into vermicompost : peat (1 : 1.5, v/v) mixture on January 14th, 2015. After germination in growth chamber, seedlings were moved to a greenhouse for seedling growing till they were ready for planting. Seedlings were transplanted to the polyethylene greenhouse 35 days after sowing. Perlite as growing medium was used in open-system soilless culture. Nutrient solution was aerated with an air compressor and applied to plants 2 days after planting with drip irrigation. To diffuse oxygen into nutrient solution in large bubbles, a circular air-stone commonly used in fisheries was used. The nutrient solution without oxyfertigation and plants not treated with bacteria constituted the control treatment. Experiments were conducted in randomized plots design with 2 factors and 3 replications. I leads were harvested 2 months after transplanting. Yield and head quality parameters of head were determined. It was concluded that oxygen enrichment of nutrient solution through a compressor (aeration) provided increases in yield and plant growth. Especially root development, head size and leaf number were higher in plants grown with aerated nutrient solution. Among the tested bacteria, B. subtilis, P. fluorescens and B. subtilis + P. fluorescens were found promising due to the their higher performance under aerated conditions on greenhouse lettuce grown in perlite.