Novel year-round production technology of leaf lettuce through natural farming in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Solan is endowed with diverse agro-climatic conditions suitable for lettuce cultivation. Year-round production technology can be adopted to produce lettuce during the off-season, thereby generating higher returns for farmers. Lettuce is a cool-season, low nutrient-demanding crop and is inherently well suited to natural farming systems. Natural farming enhances crop productivity by reducing input costs and increasing farmers’ net income, thereby promoting climate-resilient agriculture. Year-round production of leaf lettuce in hilly regions can be achieved by transplanting during February, April, August, and October. These planting windows ensure optimal growth, development, and yield throughout the year. Among the treatments evaluated, the combination of Ghanjeevamrit @ 1 t/ha + Jeevamrit drenching @ 15% + Saptadhanyankur @ 3% + sour buttermilk @ 3% significantly improved yield and quality by enhancing nutrient availability, microbial activity, and plant uptake. This treatment also resulted in the highest net returns and benefit–cost ratio, making it the most profitable option for yearround lettuce production.