‘Nitroplus’ makes lettuce greener, more robust

Much greener and more robust lettuce can now be produced with the use of microbial inoculant developed by Los Baños researchers.

The inoculant is named nitroplus, which was developed by researchers of the UP Los Baños National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH).

A study done turned out a significant result: the researchers, using nitroplus, harvested 81 percent more leaves of lettuce, which is recognized as the "king of salad plants".

Lettuce is rich in vitamins, especially the antiscorbutic vitamin C, reported Junelyn dela Rosa of the Da-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).

Fresh lettuce contains dietary fiber, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins A and C, calcium iron, magnesium, and potassium. These nutrients keep the blood clean, the mind alert, and the body in good health.

Dela Rosa further reported that nitroplus contains rhisobium op., a bacterium that forms nodules on the roots of the plants and fixes nitrogen in the air, hence, increasing plant growth and yield.

Studies have shown that soybean inoculated with nitroplus indicated a 124 percent yield increase. Using nitropolus also reduced the amount of fertilizer needed by the plant and that nitrogen in the soil is conserved for other crops. – RAF