Response of brinjal (Solanum melongena l.) to different planting density, irrigation and fertigation levels

The planting density S3 (175-50x50cm) showed significant variation with respect to mean NPK uptake by fruits, leaves, stem and total nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium uptake by plant and fruit yield (44.76 t ha−1) of brinjal over the remaining planting density S2 (75-50x90cm) and S1 (75x75cm). While the irrigation scheduled at I1 (100 per cent ETcrop) recorded significantly higher values of uptake by fruits, leaves, stem and total nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium uptake by 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. The fertigation level F1 (100 per cent RDF through drip (WSF)) recorded significantly superior values of NPK uptake by fruit, leaves, stem and total nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptake and fruit yield (39.63 t ha−1) of brinjal over the fertigation level F2 (80 per cent RDF through drip (WSF)). The control C1 (100% RDF through soil application in combination of surface irrigation with 1.0 IW/CPE ratio) noticed less average values of NPK uptake by fruit, leaves and stem, total nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptake and fruit yield of brinjal. However, the lowest average values were recorded in control C2 (surface irrigation with 1 IW/CPE ratio). The maximum fertilizer use efficiency of N, P, K i.e. 71.81, 62.52 and 153.7 per cent respectively was recorded in treatment F2 (80 per cent RDF through drip) whereas in case of treatment F1 (100 per cent RDF through drip) fertilizer use efficiency of N, P and K was 61.18, 58.06 and 140.6 per cent respectively which was comparatively less as compared to treatment F2.