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 ET_crop) 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 ET_crop) and I₃ (60 per cent ET_crop) 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.