Abstract

Field study was undertaken to standardize spacing and fertigation levels for eggplant(Solanum melongena L.) grafts. A strip plot design was adopted with four spacing levels (1 × 1, 2 × 1, 1.5 × 1.5 and 0.6 × 0.6 m) and three fertigation levels: 75, 100 and 125% recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF) replicated four times. After six months, the plants were pruned to obtain the ratoon crop which lasted four months. The days taken for 50% flowering and first harvest were affected by nutrition and neither spacing nor interaction. The 75 and 100% RDF were on par for early flowering (32.00 and 32.38 days in main crop; 16.88 and 17.00 days in ratoon crop); and early harvest (44.38 and 45.44 days in main crop; 34.38 and 35.56 days in ratoon crop). The treatment combination 1 × 1 m + 100% RDF recorded the highest marketable yield of 110.25 and 59.42 t/ha, in main and ratoon crops, respectively. Thus, cultivation of eggplant grafts under 1 × 1 m spacing along with 100% RDF (200:150:100 kg NPK/ha) through drip fertigation is recommended.

Key words: Fertigation, plant density, Solanum melongena L., vegetable grafting.