Production of lettuce changes (lactuca sativa) submitted to different doses of Silicon

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different doses of silicon on the production of lettuce seedlings. The treatments were arranged in a 4x2 factorial scheme, totaling 8 treatments. The first factor corresponded to 4 Si doses (Ca silicate) added to the substrate for seedling production (0; 13.3; 32.3 and 53.2 g.kg -1 of Si on the substrate). The second factor corresponded to two varieties of lettuce, being Monica SF31 (Crespa) and Rafaela (Americana). The experimental design was the completely randomized, with 4 replicates. The number of leaves (NF), fresh aerial mass (MFPA), dry shoot mass (MSPA), fresh radicular mass (MFRA) and root dry mass (MSRA) were evaluated. Data were submitted to analysis of variance by the F test, and the means of the treatments compared by the Tukey test at 5% probability. The seedlings of the Monica SF31 and Rafaela lettuce varieties do not present differences regarding the Si requirement for the production of MFPA, MSPA, MFRA and MSRA. The application of Si to the substrate can be a viable alternative for the production of lettuce seedlings with higher NF, MFPA, MSPA, MFRA and MSRA. Doses of 32.0 to 43.7 g.kg -1 of Si in the substrate are suitable for higher production of MFPA, MSPA, MFRA and MSRA of lettuce Monica SF31. Doses of 31.5 to 39.8 g.kg -1 of Si in the substrate are suitable for higher production of MFPA, MSPA, MFRA and MSRA of Rafaela lettuce seedlings.