RESPONSE OF GARDEN EGG (Solanum melongena) TO TWO METHOD OF N.P.K APPLICATION

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at the Horticultural garden, Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan to study response of garden egg to two methods of NPK application during the rainy season of 2022.The treatment consist of two application methods (foliar and side placement) of fertilizer. Foliar method of application consists of four treatments (which were T₁ (1ml/l), T₂ (2ml/1), T₃ (3ml/) and T₄ (4ml/1), while the side placement application also consist of four treatments (which were T₅ (100kg/ha), T₆ (120kg/ha), T₇ (140kg/ha) and T₈ (160kg/ha) and a control. These were replicated 4 times and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Parameters assessed were plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of fruits, number of days to first flower and weight at harvest. The growth parameters were assessed weekly for 9 weeks while the experiment was terminated at harvest (11weeks). Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result of study showed that 140 kg NPK/ha had the highest mean plant height of 49.97cm while control recorded the lowest value of 18.77cm. In terms of stem diameter and number of leaves 160 kg/ha had the highest values. There were significant differences observed among the treatments in the growth parameters. 4 ml/L recorded the lowest number of days first to flower while 160 kg/ha had the heaviest fruits (1279.0g) at harvest. It can therefore be recommended that T₈ (160kg/ha) side placement method and a little above T₄ around 5ml/l foliar method of fertilizer application should be used for the production of Garden egg in the study area.