Vol. 9, Special Issue 12, Part M (2025)

This research was done to investigate the influence of spacing and nutrition on its growth and quality under protected cultivation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) during Rabi of 2021-22 at ICAR-KVK, Hadonahalli of Karnataka. It was undertaken with Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design, to study the application of three different spacing such as 45×22.5 cm, 45×30 cm and 45×45 cm and three nutrient levels such as 75%, 100% and 125% of Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF) along with 25 t/ha FYM. The results revealed that plant height (38.12 cm) were recorded significantly higher at 45 cm × 22.5 cm spacing. Higher number of leaves (18.26), plant spread (32.54 cm), leaf area (290.28 cm²), chlorophyll content (48.40 SPAD), vitamin-c (40.43 mg 100 g-1), firmness (2.75) and shelf life (9 days) were recorded at 45 cm × 45 cm spacing. The higher plant height (37.65 cm), number of leaves (18.51), plant spread (32.33 cm), leaf area (268.42 cm²), chlorophyll content (47.33 SPAD), vitamin-c (40.19 mg 100 g^-1), firmness (2.50) and shelf life (8 days) were recorded at 125% RDF. Thus, optimal spacing and well enhanced nutrition made critical improvements concerning growth and quality of lettuce under protected cultivation.