Effect of side dressing nitrogen fertilization and distance between plants on yield of rocket salad

Experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of nitrogen side dressing fertilization (0; 60.0; 120.0; 180.0 and 240.0 kg ha-1), applied by fertigation and distance between plants (0.05; 0.07 and 0.10 m) for rocket salad in the field and greenhouse. The experimental design was a split-plot with randomized blocks, replicated four times. In the autumn/winter and summer experiments occurred an increase in leaf area, dry mass weight, yield and content of nitrate in leaves extract with an increase of the N doses applied. Plants spaced at 0.10 m presented the highest average leaf area and dry mass weight, but the highest yield was obtained with 0.05 m space, due to the high number of plants/area. In the autumn/winter cropping, the side dressing N application rate that allowed the highest yield in field was 240.0 kg ha-1 and in greenhouse 178.6 kg ha-1. In the summer, in greenhouse, the estimated side dressing nitrogen application rate that allowed the highest yield under plant spaced of 0.05, 0.07 and 0.10 m were 240.0, 167.3 and 231.0 kg ha-1, respectively.

Eruca sativa; nitrogen; plant nutrition; nitrate; production system