Influence of N-Fertilizer application on the yield and yield components of two varieties of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) In Anyigba, Kogi State

Abstract

There is a need to device a possible ways of improving necessary nutrients for better performance of eggplants. The use of mineral fertilizer in tropical soils can help solve the problem of low soil nutrients. So far, only N-level have been recommended in most of the region of Nigeria, the specific requirement for varieties have not or in most cases been overlooked, therefore determination of the interaction of N-level with variety is necessary as it will enable researchers determine specific level of N-fertilizer for specific variety. Thus research was conducted on Kogi State University Student Research and Demonstration Farm (Longitude 07°06¹ N; 43°E), Anyigba, Kogi State, to investigate the influence of N-fertilizer on the yield and yield components of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) the experiment consisted of two varieties of eggplants green variety encoded as NC-2, the Off-white variety encoded as NC-1 and three urea fertilizer levels (0, 100, 200kgN/ha). Factorial combination of the treatments gave a total of six treatments which was laid in a Randomized Completed Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. Urea fertilizer was applied in 2-split doses first at 3weeks after planting and the second dose was applied at fruiting. Parameters measured include: plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, fruit diameter, number of nodes, number of branches, number of fruits per plant, number of flowers per plant, fruit weight. Fertilizer application significantly increased the yield of the two varieties. However, NC-2 (green variety) appears to respond more to higher N-application (up to 200kgN/ha) as compared to NC-1 (off-white variety). Also, fertilizer had significant effect on vegetative characters, yield and some yield components. The yield were found to be statistically at par.

Key words: Eggplant, Number of branches, Number of fruits, Fruit diameter, Fruit yield, number of flowers, number of nodes, number of leaves, plant height.