Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) cv. ‘Pant Rituraj’

The present investigation was carried out at Agricultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura, Jaipur (Rajasthan) to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) cv. ‘Pant Rituraj’ during rabi season of the year 2022-23. The experiment was laid down in Randomized Block Design which consisted 9 treatment combinations, viz, control (T₀), 100% RDF (T₁), FYM (20 t/ha) (T₂), Vermicompost (10 t/ha) (T₃), Azospirilium (1250 ml/ha) (T₄), FYM (10 t/ ha) + 50% RDF (T₅), Vermicompost (5 t/ha) + 50% RDF (T₆), Azospirilium (625 ml/ha) + 50% RDF (T₇) and FYM (5 t/ha) + Vermicompost (2.5 t/ha) + Azospirilium (312 ml/ha) + 50% RDF (T₈) and treatments were replicated three times. Appraisal of the result indicated that the influence of integrated nutrient management on important parameters like vegetative growth, yield and quality attributes of brinjal were significantly influenced by integrated nutrient management under local agro-climatic conditions.

The treatment (T₈) had a significant effect on various vegetative growth, yield and quality parameters and the highest (79.22 cm) plant height, maximum (91.21) leaves per plant, (7.44) primary and (19.52) secondary branches per plant at 90 days after transplanting (DAT), the maximum (16.79) flowers per plant, (15.50) fruits per plant, (8.30 cm) fruit diameter, (135.76 g) fruit weight, longest (31.44 cm) fruit length were recorded in FYM (5 t/ha) + Vermicompost (2.5 t/ha) + Azospirilium (312 ml/ha) + 50% RDF (T₈). The application of integrated nutrient management significantly influenced the fruit yield and the highest (2.25 kg/plant) and (32.72 t/ha) yield were recorded in FYM (5 t/ha) + Vermicompost (2.5 t/ha) + Azospirilium (312 ml/ha) + 50% RDF (T₈) treatment followed by (2.17 kg/plant) and (30.04 t/ha) yield in Vermicompost (5 t/ha) + 50% RDF (T₆). Whereas, the lowest (1.36 kg/plant) and (18.81 t/ha) yield were recorded in control (T₀). The non-significant effects were observed in application of different levels of integrated nutrient management on number of days to 50 % flowering. Results further indicated that the highest (2.37) benefit: cost ratio was observed in FYM (5 t/ha) + Vermicompost (2.5 t/ha) + Azospirilium (312 ml/ha) + 50% RDF (T8) treatment followed by (2.16) in Vermicompost (5 t/ha) + 50% RDF (T6) and (2.06) in FYM (10 t/ha) + 50% RDF (T5). Whereas the lowest B:C ratio (1.57) was recorded under control (no use of manures and fertilizers).