Standardization of soilless media for brinjal (Solanum melongena) plug tray nursery

An experiment was conducted at Polytechnic in Horticulture, ACHF, NAU, Paria (Gujarat), during winter season, 2017-20 in net house condition. The experiment was laid out in a Complete Block Design in 16 treatments with three replications. Among difference soilless media ratio for brinjal(Solanum melongena L.) plug tray nursery, the treatment T₄ (vermicompost: cocopeat 1:1) was found best for the maximum seed germination (88.11%), seedling survival percentage in main field (91.24%), seed vigour index (1138.12) and highest B:C ratio (1.39). Treatment T₁ (vermicompost alone) was found best for early germination (5.73 days), while treatment T₅ (vermicompost : vermiculite, 1:1) showed maximum shoot length (14.04cm), root length (9.31cm), stem girth (1.89cm) and highest dry matter content (6.69g). The minimum damping off infection was found (0.03%) in treatment T₃ (Vermiculite alone), T₁₀ (vermicompost : cocopeat 1:2) and T₁₁ (vermicompost: vermiculite 1:2). The farmers and nurserymen raising brinjal seedling in plug tray nursery are advised to use media of vermicompost: cocopeat as 1:1 ratio for maximum germination percentage, good seedling vigour, highest BCR and maximum survival of seedling in plug tray as well as main field.