Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate how leguminous and non-leguminous cover crops alone or in mixture with synthetic nitrogen rates affect aboveground biomass, fruit number, and yield of eggplant. The following fall–spring fertility treatments were applied using randomized complete-block design with three replications: 1) fall-0 N, fallow; spring-0 N; 2) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye; spring-0 N; 3) fall-0 N, hairy vetch; spring-0 N; 4) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye+hairy vetch; spring-0 N; 5) fall-0 N, fallow; spring-70 kg×ha–1 N; 6) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye; spring-70 kg×ha–1 N; 7) fall-0 N, hairy vetch; spring-70 kg×ha–1 N; 8) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye+hairy vetch; spring-70 kg×ha–1 Na; 9) fall-0 N, fallow; spring-140 kg×ha–1 N, 10) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye; spring-140 kg×ha–1 N; 11) fall-0 N, hairy vetch; spring-140 kg×ha–1 N; and 12) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye+hairy vetch; spring-140 kg×ha–1 N. In Spring 2004, `Megal' eggplant seedlings were transplanted. Total yield and fruit number were compiled over 7 weeks, while total vegetative dry matter was measured at final harvest. Maximum aboveground biomass (227.6 g/plant), total yield (28.7 Mg×ha–1) and fruit number (13/plant) were produced by fall-0 N, hairy vetch; spring-70 kg×ha–1 N. Minimum aboveground biomass (53.0 g/plant) was produced by fall-0 N, abruzzi rye; spring-0 N, while minimum total yield (7.8 Mg×ha–1) and fruit number (5/plant) were produced by fall-0 N, fallow; spring-0 N. Results imply that hairy vetch supplemented with N at 70 kg×ha–1 is most effective in supporting fruit number and yield of eggplant.
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