POTENTIAL OF MEXICAN SUNFLOWER PLANT EXTRACT AS A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE IN CURLY LETTUCE PRODUCTION

Abstract

Lettuce is one of the most cultivated and consumed vegetables nationally, recognized for its short growing cycle, high nutritional value, and significant economic relevance. However, the production of this crop often resorts to the use of chemical inputs, which can result in adverse environmental impacts and increased production costs. Thus, the objective of this present study was to evaluate the productive behavior of curly lettuce submitted to increasing doses of Mexican sunflower plant extract. The experiment was carried out in the Green Belt of Imperatriz, adopting a randomized block design, with treatments, which consisted of increasing doses of Mexican sunflower extract, as follows: 0 g; 50 g; 100 g; 150 g; 200 g and 250 g 4 L-1 in 4 replications. Significant effects of increasing the doses of Mexican sunflower extracts were observed on the characteristics head diameter, plant height and aerial fresh mass. The dose of 50 and 100 g 4 L-1 was more expressive in these behaviors. It is concluded that the moderate application of plant extract based on Mexican sunflower leaves and stalks reduced the dependence on chemical fertilizers, standing out as a sustainable and economically viable alternative for agriculture.