Lettuce is an annual herbaceous plant, native to the mild climate regions of the northern Mediterranean.Lettuce varieties can likely be developed well in mild temperatures, but the cold and frosty winds of the autumn/winter season may damage the leaves.Their cultivation under low tunnels is an alternative to reduce this problem.This study was carried out with the aim of evaluating the influence of different cropping systems on the productive performance of lettuce in the autumn/winter cropping season.The experiments were installed following a split plot scheme with three cropping systems: (i) Open field with black polyethylene mulching (BPM); (ii) low tunnel (LT); (iii) Open field cropping (OFC) system without BPM.Three lettuce varieties of different groups were used in the subplots, with a total of nine treatments.The experimental design was of randomized blocks with four replications, at two altitudes (700 and 950 m).The number of leaves per plant, stem length, head diameter, fresh and dry matter mass per plant, leaf area index, and specific leaf area were evaluated.LT should be used for lettuce cultivation at an altitude of 950 m, as it provided higher productive performance in the autumn season.The use of the low tunnel provided for the production of lettuce plants with thinner leaves and better visual appearance, at an altitude of 700 m.
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