EFFECTS OF CULTIVATION SYSTEMS AND CULTIVARS ON GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF JAPANESE EGGPLANT IN THAILAND

Abstract

In the current study impacts of different cultivation systems and Japanese eggplant cultivars on their growth and yield were determined. Four Japanese eggplant cultivars viz., ‘Fullness’, ‘Black Beauty’, ‘Wasedaimaru’ and ‘Israel’ were grown under two systems of organic and conventional cultivations from 2 April to 16 July 2018 at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Songkhla Rajabhat University, Muang, Songkhla. The experimental arrangement used in this study was split-plots design (SPD) within a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Results of the study indicated that ‘Wasedaimaru’ and ‘Fullness’ were suitable for growing under the organically managed production. ‘Wasedaimaru’ grown under an organic cultivation system had a lower yield per plant at 4,444.00g than grown under conventional chemical cultivation at 6,848.40g. The organic yield was not significantly different (p≤0.05) from ‘Fullness’ grown under organic cultivation at 3,947.40g. ‘Wasedaimaru’ and ‘Fullness’ were identified as suitable cultivars for production under organic cultivation in Thailand with high yield.