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Abstract Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivation shows optimal development in soils with clay-loam or sandy-loam textures, under cool and humid climatic conditions. However, crop yield and quality are negatively affected by the debilitating effect due to high temperatures on plant development. This research aimed to evaluate the performance of the lettuce variety var. Batavia in two types of greenhouses (air-conditioned and traditional), located in the Calpi parish, belonging to the Riobamba canton, province of Chimborazo. During all phenological stages of the crop, measurements and evaluations of morphological and climatic variables were carried out every 15 days. The results obtained were subjected to a 5% Student's T test. The best results were obtained during cultivation in a climate-controlled greenhouse. Compared to traditional greenhouse cultivation, the plant cycle was completed in less time, specifically in 43 days with an average weight of 467 gr, while in the traditional greenhouse, it took 48 days with an average weight of 380 gr. The average height and number of leaves were also higher in the climate-controlled greenhouse, with values of 22.71 cm and a dry matter percentage of 29.87%. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis, and it was found that there was a highly significant difference between the means in the two conditions evaluated, with a p-value less than 0.00012. While no significant difference was observed in relation to biometric parameters of the crop versus climatic factors (p-value > 0.05 ns). The results showed a yield of 29.18 t/ha in the air-conditioned greenhouse, whereas in the traditional greenhouse it was 23.76 t/ha, increasing the production and yield of fresh lettuce cultivation by 22.79% in the heated greenhouse compared to the traditional greenhouse. |
