Growth performance of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Grafts Subjected to Different Spacing and Fertigation Levels

Abstract

Growth performance of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) grafts was evaluated under different spacing and fertigation levels. The field trial was designed in a strip plot design with four levels of spacing (S1: 1 m x 1m, S2: 2 m x 1 m, S3: 1.5 m x 1.5 m and S4: 0.6 m x 0.6 m) and three levels of fertigation, F1: 75 % RDF (Recommended Dose of Fertilizer), F2: 100 % RDF and F3: 125 % RDF, replicated four times. Eggplant seedlings (not grafted) were planted also for comparison with grafts. The plant height, number of branches per plant and plant spread in East-West (EW) and North-South (NS) directions were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance using M Stat-C software package while the growth performance of eggplant grafts and seedlings were compared using t-test. The results indicated that grafting had high effect on plant growth parameters and increases in eggplant grafts over seedlings were 72.76, 48.13, 49.13 and 56.09 per cent for plant height, number of branches per plant, plant spread in EW and NS direction respectively. Moreover, spacing and fertigation levels significantly affected eggplant growth and excellent growth performance for eggplant grafts was noticed under 1.5 m x 1.5 m + 100 per cent RDF which is recommended at the end of this study. Eggplant growers should be encouraged use eggplant grafts in combination with adequate plant spacing and nutrition since these contribute to the improved plant growth and development leading to greater productivity.