Effect of different planting density, irrigation and fertigation levels on growth and yield of Brinjal

The planting density S3 (175-50x50cm) recorded significantly superior growth parameters viz., plant height, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, mean plant spread, biomass production including fruit, leaf and stem dry matter and yield attributes viz., number of fruits per plant, average fruit length, average fruit diameter, average weight of fruit, weight of fruits per plant and fruit yield (44.76 t ha−1) of brinjal over the planting densities S2 (75-50x90cm) and S1 (75x75cm) under study. The planting density S2 (75-50x90cm) was observed statistically superior to planting density S1 (75x75cm). While the irrigation scheduled at I1 (100 per cent ETcrop) recorded significantly higher values of growth parameters viz., plant height, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, mean plant spread, biomass production including fruit, leaf and stem dry matter and yield attributes viz., number of fruits per plant, average fruit length, average fruit diameter, average weight of fruit, weight of fruits per plant and fruit yield (40.17 t ha−1) of brinjal over remaining irrigation levels I2 (80 per cent ETcrop) and I3 (60 per cent ETcrop) under study. Similarly, the irrigation scheduled at I2 (80 per cent ETcrop) noticed statistically superior to irrigation scheduled at I3 (60 per cent ETcrop). Fertigation level F1 (100 per cent RDF through drip (WSF)) recorded significantly superior growth parameters viz., plant height, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant and mean plant spread and biomass production including fruit, leaf and stem dry matter. The yield attributing characters namely number of fruits per plant, average fruit length, average fruit diameter, average weight of fruit, weight of fruits per plant and fruit yield (39.63 t ha−1) of brinjal recorded under treatment F1-100 per cent RDF through drip (WSF) which was statistically superior over the fertigation level F2-80 per cent RDF through drip. While the control C1 (100% RDF through soil application in combination of surface irrigation with 1.0 IW/CPE ratio) and C2 (surface irrigation with 1 IW/CPE ratio) showed lowest average values of growth parameters viz., plant height, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant and mean plant spread, biomass production including fruit, leaf and stem dry matter and yield attributes viz., number of fruits per plant, average fruit length, average fruit diameter, average weight of fruit, weight of fruits per plant and fruit yield (26.68 t ha−1 and 12.81 t ha−1, respectively).