THE EFFECT OF MARBLE POWDER ON PLANT NUTRIENT CONTENT AND YIELD IN LETTUCE PLANT

Abstract

This study was conducted at Silifke Vocational School of Mersin University research greenhouses. In this study, 5 different growing mediums were applied (1) control; namely peat+perlite (2:1), (2) 87.5% (peat and perlite)+ 12.5 % marble powder, (3) 75 % (peat and perlite)+ 25% marble power, (4) 50% (peat and perlite)+ 50% marble powder, (5) 25% (peat and perlite)+75% marble power and the same mediums were applied with 5% acetic acid application (acidic application). This study was established with 3 replicates and 9 plants in each replicate and in accordance with randomized parcels experimental design. Plants were harvested 30 days after plantation. In the measurements and analyses, 44.87% of chlorophyll content, 298.89 g fresh weight, 15.65 g dry weight and 33.3 leaf number were determined in 25% marble powder + 75% (peat + perlite) mixture by acidic water application. In addition, in the leaves of the plants grown under same conditions, some macro and micro element concentrations were observed to be N (4.4%), Mg (50.95%), K (58%), P (1.01%) and Ca (1.3%), Fe (111.5 ppm), Zn (73.4 ppm), Cu (31 ppm) and Mn (69.8 ppm) respectively. When marble powder and acidic water were used under the cultivation conditions, the dry and fresh weights of plant, number of leaves and some macro and micro element contents were positively affected.