Studies on the efficacy of foliar feeding of water soluble fertilizers on growth parameters and yield of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) hybrid COBH-1.

摘要

A study was conducted in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, from December 2002 to May 2003 to investigate the effects of foliar application of water soluble fertilizers on the growth and yield of aubergine hybrid COBH-1. The treatments comprised a control (no spray), 3 and 5 sprays of Multi K (13:0:46 NPK), 3 and 5 sprays of Polyfeed (19:19:19 NPK), 2 and 5 sprays of Polyfeed (15:15:30 NPK), 3 and 5 sprays of Polyfeed (17:10:27 NPK); 3 and 5 sprays of monoammonium phosphate (MAP; 12:61:00 NPK), and 3 and 5 sprays of monopotassium phosphate [potassium dihydrogen phosphate] (MKP; 00:52:34 NPK). The treatments with 3 sprays were given on 45, 60 and 75 days after transplanting, and the treatments with 5 sprays were given on 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after transplanting. All the treatments received a recommended dose of 200:150:100 kg NPK/ha. Foliar application of Polyfeed (19:19:19 NPK; 5 sprays), along with the normal recommended dose, recorded the highest plant height (130.75 cm), number of branches (24.62), leaf area index (4.72), dry matter production (275.41), fruit set percentage (38.75), number of fruits per plant (29.78), fruit weight (67.24 g) and fruit yield (62.69 t/ha). This treatment also recorded the highest net profit (108 138) and cost benefit ratio (3.04)..