A study was performed to evaluate Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ni and Zn accumulations in lettuce grown in an oxisol amended with composted urban solid wastes collected in Brazil from a big city (Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro State) and from a small city (Coimbra, Minas Gerais State). The compost samples were applied to the soil at increasing doses and different times of contact between compost and soil. The influence of the metals on the fresh and dry matter yield of leaves was also examined. Lettuce yield enhanced when the doses of the composts were increased and maximum yield was achieved in the cropping time between 15 and 20 days. The metal concentrations in the leaves augmented with the increase of the applied compost and with the increase of the time of contact between compost and soil. However, metal concentrations in the plant were below the maximum limits allowable by the food Brazilian legislation. The application of the compost from the smaller city resulted in increased lettuce productivity and lowest metal concentrations in the plants as compared to the results of the application of the compost from the bigger city.
lettuce; compost; fresh matter; dry matter; metal
