Influence of different nitrogen fertilizer levels on the growth and fruit production of brinjal, Solanum nelongena L.

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the fruit production of brinjal as influenced by different nitrogen levels, at Malir experimental Farm of Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, during the year 1997-98. Complete Randomized Block Design with three replications was applied. The plot size maintained was 8.75 m2 (3.50 x 2.50 m). Fertilizer levels tested were; 0, 56, 64, 72, 80 and 88 kg N per hectare. The study revealed that increasing N levels had highly significant effect on days taken to flowering, days taken to first fruit harvest, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, length of fruit, diameter of fruit, weight of single fruit, weight of fruits per plant, yield per plot and yield per hectare. The plots fertilized with 88 or 80 kg N per hectare took significantly minimum days to flowering (41.67, 41.67), days taken to first fruit harvest (74 and 74), produced maximum plant height (85.33 cm 84 cm), number of branches (7.13, 6.61) per plant, number of fruits (8.85, 8.45) per plant, fruit length (13.61, 13.31 cm) fruit diameter (8.83, 8.67 em) single fruit weight (75.13, 74.10 g), fruits weight per plant (0.964, 0.953 kg), fruit yield per plot (12.44, 12.12 kg) and yield per hectare (14.220, 13.858 m.t), respectively. The plots received 72 kg N per hectare ranked third and took 42.33 days to flowering, 75 days to first fruit harvest, produced plant height of 79.67 em, number of branches (6.07) per plant, number of fruits (7.54) per plant, fruit length (12.16 cm), fruit diameter (7.97 cm), single fruit weight (69.47 g), fruit weight per plant (0.885 kg), fruit yield per plot (10.19 kg) and yield per hectare (11.645 m.t). On the other band control treatment (zero N) took maximum number of days to flowering (50.67), days taken to first fruit harvest- ('19.6'7), produced minimum plant height (55.67 cm), number of branches (2.16) per plant, number of fruits (5.12) per plant, length of fruit (8.84 cm), diameter of fruit (5.14 cm) weight of single fruit (43.09 g), weight of fruits (0.382 kg) per plant, fruit yield per plot (2.04 kg) and yield per hectare (2.325 m.t). It was deduced from the results of the present study that application of nitrogenous fertilizers is essential. There was a successive improvement in the values of all the growth and yield-contributing parameters due to increased N application. However, statistically higher N (88 kg) application remained uneconomical, as the differences were non-significant between 80 kg and 88 kg N levels. From the results of the present study it was assumed that 88 kg N was uneconomical statistically, hence concluded that for harvesting a good brinjal crop 80 kg N per hectare alongwith basal dose of P and K could be sufficient in Tandojam soil conditions.