Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and economics of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) cv. GABH-3

Abstract

An experiment was conducted on “Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and economics of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) cv. GABH-3” at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand during Kharif-Rabi season of the year 2018. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with 3 replications and 7 treatments viz., T1 – Control (RDF = 200:50:50 NPK kg/ha), T2 - 75% RDF through inorganic fertilizers + 25% through FYM, T3 - 75% RDF through inorganic fertilizers + 25% through vermicompost, T4 - 50% RDF through inorganic fertilizers + 50% through FYM, T5 - 50% RDF through inorganic fertilizers + 50% through vermicompost, T6 - 75% RDF through inorganic fertilizers + 25% through FYM + NPK consortium and T7 - 75% RDF through inorganic fertilizers + 25% through vermicompost + NPK consortium. Growth parameters viz., plant height and number of branches per plant at 120 days after transplanting were recorded maximum (87.78 cm and 24.94) in treatment T7 which, was at par with T6 for plant height and treatments T5 and T6 for number of branches per plant however, integrated nutrient management did not manifest its effect on days to flower initiation. The maximum fruit length (23.01 cm), fruit diameter (4.33 cm) and fruit weight (149.21 g) was recorded with treatment T5 which remained at par with treatment T6 and T7 for fruit length and with treatment T6 for fruit diameter and fruit weight. Treatment T7 recorded significantly, maximum number of fruits per plant (39.86), fruit yield per plant (5.47 kg) and fruit yield per hectare (40.76 t) which remained at par with treatment T6 (35.21, 5.43 kg and 39.92 t, respectively). Economic assessment of different treatments revealed that maximum net realization of ₹ 338863/ha with benefit cost ratio (5.62) was observed in treatment T6 (75% RDF through inorganic fertilizers + 25% through FYM + NPK consortium).