Impact of organic sources of plant nutrients on yield and quality of brinjal

Abstract

An investigation on the "Impact of organic sources of plant nutrients on yield and quality of brinjal" was carried out at the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara during 1993-1997. Results showed that yield attributes of brinjal like number of fruits, volume of fruits, yield per plant and yield per plot was maximum with highest level of poultry manure (155

Kg N ha-1) The crop duration as well as the number of harvests were significantly increased when poultry manure was applied at the highest level (155 kg N ha-1). Quality parameters like ascorbic acid and total soluble solids were maximum with the highest level of poultry manure. , The starch content as well as reducing sugar content of fruits were maximum with higher level of FYM and poultry manure while all the organic treatments were at par with regard to total sugars. Moisture content of fruits increased with increasing levels of N. The appearance, flavour, texture and taste of cooked fruits were superior from treatment involving lower level of

poultry manure while the colour preference was for the fruits from treatments having inorganic fertilizers alone at lower level. Maximum per cent of unmarketable fruits after five days and seven days of storage was obtained from the plants supplied with inorganic fertilizers alone and minimum in plants given with organic manures alone. Seed characters like number of seeds per fruit, weight of seeds per fruit, seed yield per plant and germination per cent of seeds were maximum in treatments having higher level of poultry manure (155 kg N ha-1). Shoot and fruit borer attack was reduced with the application of FYM alone, while incidence of epilachna beetle was reduced with the application of FYM or poultry manure alone. Physical as well as chemical properties of soil in terms of bulk density, organic carbon, total N, available P and K were improved with the continuous application of organic manures alone. Total uptake of N, P and K were maximum for the plants applied with higher level of poultry manure.

Poultry manure at higher level showed average stability with regard to almost all yield contributing characters. Brinjal cultivation was found to be more remunerative with the application of poultry manure at higher level (155 kg N ha-1) .