Research proposal on

RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON:

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF LETTUCE PRODUCED WITH

ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZER AT TECHIMAN

MUNICIPALITY.

BY

ABIGAIL AYEW AMPOFOAH

211AB01000011

(AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT)

VALLEY VIEW UNIVERSITY-TECHIMAN CAMPUS

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

INTRODUCTION. LITERATURE REVIEW. PROBLEM STATEMENT. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. METHODOLOGY.

LETTUCE (LACTUCA SATIVA)

INTRODUCTION

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is the most popular amongst the salad vegetable crops. It is most often grown as a leafy vegetable but sometimes for its stems and seeds.

Lettuce is an annual crop which belongs to the family Compositae or sunflower family and genus Lactuca and species Sativa.

Lettuce was first cultivated by the ancient Egyptians who turned it from a weed, whose seeds were used to produce oil, into a plant grown for its leaves

INTRODUCTION

Generally grown as a hardy annual, lettuce is easily cultivated, although it requires relatively low temperatures to prevent it from flowing quickly.

Lettuce contains vitamin A and potassium as well as a minor source of several other vitamins and nutrients.

Lettuce has a relatively high water requirement. Inadequate moisture will seriously stunt growth and head quality.

INTRODUCTION

Successful production of lettuce depends on vigorous growth.

A wide range of well-drained soils can be used; however, the crop does best on fertile, high organic matter soils that have good water-holding capacity.

Adequate nutrients and a continues moisture supply are essential to vigorous growth. The pH should be 6.0 to 6.7.

INTRODUCTION

Generally grown as a hardy annual, lettuce is easily cultivated, although it requires relatively low temperatures to prevent it from flowing quickly.

Lettuce contains vitamin A and potassium as well as a minor source of several other vitamins and nutrients.

Lettuce has a relatively high water requirement. Inadequate moisture will seriously stunt growth and head quality.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Soils in Techiman is mostly characterized by clay parts, which have poor drainage capacity. They are very compact during the dry season. Yet in the rainy season, they are water logged and hence lettuce cultivation is unsuccessful in these areas.

Because the soil nutrients are not made available for the plant use, it is important therefore to evaluate the cost and benefits on the use of organic and inorganic fertilizer in lettuce production.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

General Objectives: To evaluate the cost benefit involved in producing

lettuce using organic and inorganic fertilizers.

Specific Objectives: Assess the cost per acre of producing lettuce.  Assess the yield levels of lettuce using the different

fertilizer application.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an annual crop of the aster or sunflower family Asteraceae.

It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable but sometimes for its stem and seeds.

It is easily cultivated although it requires relatively low temperature to prevent it from flowing quickly.

LITERATURE REVIEW

It can be plagued with numerous nutrient deficiencies, as well as insect and mammal pests and fungi and bacterial diseases.

L. sativa crosses easily within the species and with some other species within the Lactuca genus although this trait can be a problem to home gardeners who attempt to save seeds.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Lettuce is most often used for salads, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups sandwiches among others.

Lettuce is a good source of vitamin A and potassium as well as a minor source for several other vitamins and nutrients.

Despite its beneficial properties, lettuce when contaminated is often a source of bacterial, viral and parasitic outbreaks in humans.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The best type of soil to be use when producing lettuce is the loamy soil.

Lettuce is a cool- season crop. Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before last spring frost date for earliest crop.

LITERATURE REVIEW

IMPORTANCE OF LETTUCE Serves as source of employment to people. Generation of income. Controls soil erosion For preparing soups. Helps in weight loss. Serve as food.

LITERATURE REVIEW  Aphids: These pests are problems, especially

when the weather is cool, because they emerge earlier and tolerate colder temperatures than many of their predators.

Tip burn: Inconsistent watering contributes to the problem.

Flea beetles; lettuce will be shot through with tiny holes.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Bacterial leaf spot and head rot. Bacterial soft rot. Root knot. Bottom rot. stunt

METHODOLOGY

MATERIALS AND METHODSMATERIALS NEEDED

For successful production of lettuce the following materials will be needed Land for production Lettuce seeds Organic fertilizer (poultry manure) Inorganic fertilizer (N. P. K) Irrigation system Weedicides and pesticides Knapsack sprayer

METHODOLOGY

METHOD

The variety I will use is Eden

NURSERY

The seeds will to be nursed until they are ready to be transplanted onto the field.

SOIL PREPARATION

Fields will be prepared thoroughly by plowing, hallowing and removing plant debris from the soil surface.

METHODOLOGY

METHODS

WEEDING

This is mainly done to control weeds that will compete with lettuce for its nutrients, air and water as well.

METHODOLOGYDATA TO BE COLLECTED Plant height. Plant leave area. Number of leaves per plant. Time of flowering initiation 50% flower initiation. Full flower initiation. Number of flowers per plant. Date of harvesting Cost of fertilizers. Cost of labourers Cost of land preparation.

METHODOLOGY

The six treatments are as follows;T1 – No fertilizer.T2 – Poultry manure and Ammonia.T3 –NPK and Poultry manure.T4 –Poultry manure.T5-Ammonia.T6-NPK

The one variety to be used is EdenV1 – Eden

METHODOLOGY

TREATMENTS

One(1) variety (Eden) will be used with 6 treatments and 3 replications under the Complete Randomized Block Design.

The treatments will be V1T1, V1T2, V1T3, V1T4, V1T5, V1T6, because of the one variety.

METHODOLOGY

V1T1 – Eden with no fertilizer. V1T2 – Eden with ammonia and poultry

manure. V1T3 – Eden with NPK and poultry manure. V1T4 – Eden with Poultry manure. V1T5 – Eden with ammonia . V1T6 – Eden with NPK .

METHODOLOGY

FIELD LAY OUT UNDER COMPLETE RANDOMISED DESIGN

VIT1 VIT6 V1T4

V1T2 V1T5 V1T3

V1T3 V1T4 V1T2

V1T4 V1T3 V1T1

V1T5 V1T2 V1T5

V1T6 V1T1 V1T6

METHODOLOGY

DATA ANALYSIS The data collected from the various plots will be

analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA)

SOURCE OF VARIATION

DEGREE OF FREEDOM (df)

Total 12

Treatments 6

Replications 3

Error 3

RESEARCH SCHEDULEACTIVITY NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

CULTIVATION

•Land Preparation

•Nursing

•Transplanting

•Cultural practices

•harvesting

LITERATURE REVIEW

DATA COLLECTION

DATA ANALYSIS

REPORT WRITTING

REFERENCES

Lactuca Sativa Kew Royal Botanical Gardens. Retrieved 2012/04/02

Lactuca Sativa United States Department of Agriculture Retrieved 2012/04/02