1.

INTRODUCTION

Lettuce (Lettuce sativa) is the most widely grown all green leaf salad crops. It probably
originated in the east and introduced to Mediterranean at an early date. Lettuce belongs to
aesteracia family. One of the largest plant kingdoms, which contain Sunflower, Chicong endire,
Pyretherum and many ornamental flowers (Baley, 2005).lettuce is an annual or biennial
lactiferous herb with at first shortened flesh stem 10-15cm tall producing a roseate of smooth
radial. Spirally arrangement leaves (Kocher, 1998). Although lettuce farms a deep penetrating tap
root, the major absorbing area is found spreading laterally in the upper 30cm of the soil
(Nonnecke, 1998).

Lettuce is the most frequently used salads, but may also be cooked as spinach or steamed. It is
major salad in North America, Australia, Europe Newsier land and South America. It is
production is increasing in the Middle East, Africa and Japan. The production and consumption
of lettuce contained to increase so that it is now importance Vegetable crop .Most meals are
appropriate with salads of lettuce alone or in combinations. Lettuce can be served in combination
with all kinds of salads and other ingredients as well as addressing up hot or cold dishes. In
calories and aids the digestion of others, food eaten with it (Nonnecke, 1989). About 100gm of
lettuce especially the darker outer leaves will supply, about 30% of child’s vitamin ‘’A’’
requirements (Bayley, 2005).

lettuce is one of    the important cash crops and vegetable crops in Ethiopia(Gebremeriam and
Mohamed, 1985).Area covered by this crop in the county during miler season 2002/02 cropping   
season in 127-92ha. The production is 1.14 million kg and with average yields of 8926 kg/ha
(CSA, 2003) which is below maximum that is 15000 kg/ha (Kroll, 2002). Lettuce also grows on
both field and media. It can also grow on different growth media. Growth media are the material
similar to soil that physically supports plant growth (Ekpo and Sita, 2010). A balance between
available water and aeration in the growing media is essential for production quality plants in
containers (Ingram at al 2009; Ekpo and Seta, 2010). The physical and chemical properties of
soil are dominant factor of acting the use of soil as a medium for plant growth Kasha et al.,
(2005) and Carlia (2008) reported that composition and nutritional status of media is help full to
produce quality emergence and growth performance of lettuce. Good media is a resource of
producing health and quality plant (Adams et al., 2003). Choosing the most suitable media for
the achievement of successful plant production is very important in potted growth. The function
of growing media are to support plant in soil to hold and provide water and water and nutrient
element and to enable plant root to get sufficient amount of oxygen (Ingram et al., 2003.Gabriel
et al (1986) also reported that soil mixes play important role in pot plant production and
determine the nutritional status of potting media in sustaining better growth of plant correct
growth media used for ripe and emergence and health plant growth. However the media of
lettuce for emergence and growth performance required light ,oxygen and well drained as well as
water yet capable of enough water and nutrient level to sustain the plant (Gebrial et al., 1986 ;
Adams et al., 2000).   

1.2. Objectives

1.2.1. General Objective

 To Asses Different growth Media on emergence and growth

performance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

1.2.2. Specific Objective

 To identify appropriate media for emergence and growth

performance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

1.2.3. Hypothesis

Ho; Media has no effect on emergence and growth performance of lettuce.

H1; Media has effect on emergence and growth performance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

2.2. History of lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Lettuce was first cultivated in ancient Egypt, for the production of oil forms its seeds. This plant
was probably selectively bred by the Egyptians in to a plant grown for its edible leaves (Jump
weaver, 2012). An evidence of lettuce cultivation was appearing as early as 2680 BC (Jump
weaver, 2012). The was through to help the God perform the sexual act untiringly (Jert George,
2005) .The history of lettuce of many variety is complicated by practice of many companies
particularly in the changes of variety name for year to year documentation from the late 19 the
century shows between 65 and 140 distinct varieties of lettuce name also often changed
significantly from country to country (Jump weaver, 2012).   

2.2. Origins, taxonomy and distribution of lettuce

Lettuce is originated in Middle East Asia and introduced to medetirinian at any early date.
Family of lettuce is aesteraceae, genus lactuca, species lactuca sativa. Lettuce is one of the
largest kingdom, weakfish contain Sunflower, chicong endire, Pyatrum and many ornamental
flower (Baley,2005 ). It cultivated by Egyptians (Serriol et al., 2012) major salad in North
America, Australia, Europe Newsier land and South America.

2.2.1. Morphology of lettuce and their variety.

Leaf of lettuce is varying in color leaves and their leaf type shape. Leaves may be broad or
narrow with leaf margins that may be entire, lobed, or frilled Romaine type are generally up right
but also flat end Butter heads from small head, and the leaves have soft texture common
commercials green leaves lettuce varsities (Sacramento, 2010).

Lettuce has a shortened flesh stems 10 to 15 cm talls.the stem elongates and branches in
peniculate manner during reproductive phase and each branch terminates in a homogenous
capitullum with ligunate, hermoprodite pale yellow leaves (Sacramanto, 2010).

2.2.2. Importance and production of lettuce

Lettuce is a plant uses full amount of several nutrient including vitamins A and C an mineral
andiron. Each head of lettuce contain 65 to 70 kilocalories (Baley 2005). Its production is
increase in the Middle East Africa and Japan. The lettuce plant is very important cash crop in
Ethiopia (Gabremarium and Muhammad, 1985). Area covered by this production in the country
during marcher season 2001/2 cropping season is 127.92 has the production is 1.14 million kg
and with average yield of 8926 kg/ha (CSA, 2003). Which is below maximum that is 15,000
kg/ha the agronomic practice also increase yield in area (CSA, 2003).

2.2.3. Temperature Requirements

Lettuce plants is required climatic of cool season crop that grow best with in temperature range
of 12oc to 20 oc. Temperature above 27 oc affect the head of the plant to develop and plant edible
quality and also promote premature seed stalk development .high temperature also in habit
germination and can cause a high incidence of tip burn (Protoria, 2014).

2.2.4. Soil Requirements

Lettuce plant grows well on wide variety of soils ranging from light sand to heavy clay, and
fertile loam. Fertile loam has rich in organic matter. A Ph between 5.5 and 7 is optimum. Lettuce
should be grown on soil with water holding capacity and proper drainage for good root growth
and plant performance (Kwazulu, 2001).

2.2.5. Disease and pest managements

The disease that affects plant is Gray mould Botrytis cinerea is a fungus that can affect plant at
all stage of growth, although initial infection is often on seedling in the lath house. Seedling is
usually affected by the damping of fungus before the gray mould disease occurs, and also (IPM)
Integrated Pest Managements is necessary and it includes, Cultural, Physical and Chemical
Control techniques to Manage Pest (Hawerd R, 1994).

2.3. Importance of Growth Media on Plant Growth.

The uses of growing media amongst other used to describe the material used in a container to
grow a plant (Schroeder, 2009; Vagha et al., 2011; Medium Verghan, 2009). Growth media are a
material ,other than soil insitu in which grown plant. It includes organic materials wool (Grunert
et al., 2008; Vaghan et al. 2011). Growing media provide aeration and water, allow for maximum
root growth ,physically support the plant (Bilder back et al. 2005).The uses of good media is a
resource of producing health and quality plant( Adams et al. 2003).

2.3.1. Factors that Affect Lettuce Growth on Potted Media.

The factor affect of environmental on emergence and development of lettuce apparent.
Temperature is one of the environmental factor affect plant emergence growth (Verker, k,and,C,J,
Tspitter,2002). Lath House potting media influence quality of emergence produced (Agbo and
omaliko,2006).Seed emergence on growth performance of lettuce is specially affected
environmental factor such as oxygen, water, temperature ,and for some plant species are
light(Hartmann et al 2001).

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enumeration,2001/2002report in                                    primary result of Area production of
yield of statically Authority of Ethiopia,Addis Ababa Ethiopia pp 57.

Ekpo,M,O and Sita,S,K 2010.Infulence growing media of leaf diameters and Ecological
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Gebramarium T,K and M,G M Mohammed, 1995 Vegetable crop in india,calcralte,indian pp

408-                            411 pendey,V,E 2001 lettce and related vegetable composite pp 294.

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