The trial was carried out in Três Pontas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from October to December, 2002, to evaluate the influence of doses of nitrogen and molybdenum on yield and macronutrient uptake of crisphead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). A randomized complete block design scheme with three replications was used, in which the treatments were a factorial combination of nitrogen rates (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1 of N) in top dressing in addition to the dose used by farmers (60 kg ha-1 of N) and five foliar molybdenum rates (0.0; 35.1; 70.2; 105.3 and 140.4 g ha-1). The highest yield of commercial fresh mass was obtained using the dose of 89.1 kg ha-1 of nitrogen in top dressing and 94.2 g ha-1 of molybdenum. The results indicated an increase in the levels of Ca, Zn, Fe and Mn as a consequence of the application of higher doses of nitrogen and molybdenum. Significant effect of the interaction N x Mo on the Cu level was verified and it was evidenced, for the highest molybdenum level (140.4 g ha-1), a linear reduction due to the application of increasing doses of nitrogen.
Lactuca sativa; yield; boron; zinc; copper; iron; manganese
