The agronomic viability of no-tillage system for lettuce was evaluated, using grass and legume as cover crop under organic management. A randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement was used. Plot treatments were conventional soil tillage (control), bahia grass and perennial peanut cultivated for living cover crops on no-tillage system. Split-plot treatments were doses of poultry manure (0; 7; 14 and 28 t ha-1) in three application periods. Lettuce cv. Vera yield was not affected by tillage system neither by cover crop. The quadratic model was the most appropriate to describe the variation of yield. The greatest yield estimated by regression models was 348 g plant-1 with 23 t ha-1 of poultry manure bed. On the no tillage system, using bahia grass or perennial peanut, the estimated yield by regression models was similar to the conventional soil tillage system, with a yield of 55,99 t ha-1 using 23,4 t ha-1 of poultry manure bed.
Lactuca sativa; Paspalum notatum; Arachis pintoi; soil cover; organic amendment
