effects of NPK fertilizer on growth, drymatter production and yield of eggplant in southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The growth, dry matter and yield of eggplant under varying levels of NPK 15:15:15 were evaluated in both pot and field trials. Results from the pot trial showed a significant enhancement in fruit yield with increasing fertilizer level up to 200kg/ha while other shoot's characteristics (leaf number, branch number and stem length) were favoured up to 300kg/ha. Unexpectedly, a significant branch number increment at 300kg/ha did not lead to a significant yield increase. Field trial's results showed that growth, yield and other shoot's characteristics greatly increased up to 200kgNPK/ha application after which there was either insignificant increment or a decline. Increment of dry weight towards maturity suggests that there was no cessation in eggplant growth even when partitioning of assimilates towards fruit development took place. The study concluded that 200kgNPK/ha is adequate for optimum growth, dry matter production (pre-anthesis and anthesis stages) and yield in both field and greenhouse conditions.