Appraisal of growth, development, yield and quality of Solanum melongena to different growth condition

Appraisal of growth, development, yield and quality to different growth condition in Solanum melongena Pure and Applied Biology. Vol. 8, Issue 2, pp1861-1875. Abstract Commercial organic production of brinjal is a challenge for growers, which links to understand the field trail of organic and inorganic regime on its growth, yield and development. Current experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design with split plot arrangements and three times replicated. Organic regime (Farm Yard Manure, Spent Mushroom Compost and Poultry Manure at 25:10:5 tons ha -1 ) and Inorganic regime (N:100, P:50, K:50 kg ha -1 ) were assigned to the main plots while brinjal cultivars (Namli-F1, Black Boy-F1, BSS-513 and Meiyinqienquan) were subjected to the subplots. Data on various quantitative and qualitative variables of eggplant cultivars were taken under both the regimes. Results revealed that both cultivars and growing regimes significantly (p≤0.05) affected the performance of eggplant. Among eggplant cultivars, more number of leaves, fruits, fruit weight plant -1 and total yield were observed in cultivar Namli-F1 followed by Black boy-F1 which also gave maximum total soluble solids. Highest plant height and fruit dry matter contents were noted in cultivar BSS-513. However, the performance of cultivar Meiyinqienquan was inferior among all the cultivars except for the number of days to 50% flowering. Regarding growing regimes, it was noticed that under the organic regime maximum plant height, number of fruits, fruit weight plant -1 , total yield and total soluble solids were produced. Whereas, maximum number of leaves plant -1 and chlorophyll content were produce under the inorganic regime. Present investigations concluded that cultivar Namli-F1 should be grown for the promising yield while Black boy-F1 and BSS-513 for their better quality under the organic regime.


Introduction
Eggplant is botanically called Solanum melongena L. a well-known specie of Solanaceae (Night Shade) family. It is known as brinjal, garden egg or aubergine [1]. It is an important annual herb of subtropics and perennial of tropics, woody at the base [2]. The shape of the fruit of some of its white verities are similar with the shape of a chicken egg, so the name eggplant is given [3] having wide variation in fruit size, shape and color [4]. Eggplant is believed to be originated in the Indo-Burma region [5]. It is a versatile crop, adapted to a wide range of agro-climatic regions of the world [6]. In KP, eggplant is cultivated on 1.32 thousand hectares area out of 9.04 thousand hectares with the estimated production of about 13.65 thousand tons out of 91.13 tones of Pakistan [7]. [8] analyzed that fresh eggplant fruit (100 gm) contain sufficient quantity of moisture (92.7%), carbohydrates (4.0 gm), protein (1.4 gm), fat (0.3 gm), vitamin C (12 mg), calcium (18 mg), iron (0.9 mg), thiamine (0.04 mg) and riboflavin (0.11mg). In addition, it's also a rich source of copper, vitamin-B, niacin, folate, and dietary fiber [9]. Its fruit is used primarily for cooking purpose and a raw material for dehydration and pickle making industries [10]. It prevents constipation and helps in digestion due to its roughage value. Also used as a cure for toothache while white fruits are recommended for diabetic patients [11]. A long warm season with a temperature of about 25-32 o C day and 21-27 o C night is suitable for the successful production of eggplant. It grows on an open range of soil types however performs best on a well drained silty or clay loam soil having pH of 5.5-6.5 [12]. Many reviews showed that eggplant performed well with the application of NPK fertilizers [13]. Nitrogen (N) is a major component of all amino acids (protein), lipids and chloroplasts [14]. Fruit pH, total soluble solids, crude protein, vitamin C, seed number, delayed in flowering and fruit setting in eggplant is significantly affected by increasing nitrogen fertilizers [15]. Phosphorus (P) is a second macronutrient, a major constituent of nucleic acids, energy compounds (ATPs and ADPs), co-enzymes, phospholipids and plays important role in promoting plant growth, early and total yield [16]. It has positive impact on root system, helps in formation of fibrous, lateral and healthy roots [17] accelerate maturity, resistance to disease, protein levels, palatability of fruit, in seeds lowering its fat contents and also balancing other nutrients in eggplant [18]. Potassium (K) is a third essential macronutrient and its major role is in translocation of assimilates, protein synthesis, improves fruit quality and enhancing of enzymatic activity inside plant body [19]. Application of inorganic fertilizers in excess create problems like increase losses of fertilizers, soil erosion, environmental pollution, pest resistance and food chain restriction that ultimately affected human health while organic fertilizers provide healthy and qualitative foods by supplying essential nutrients to plant [20]. Organic matter increases soil fertility, anion and cation exchange capacity, soil microbial activity, soil structure, soil pH, organic and carbon content of soil and thus enhance fruit quality and yield [21]. Organic manures like Farmyard and poultry manure are most frequently used in developing countries including Pakistan for obtaining better crops yield and quality [22]. FYM acts as soil conditioner, supply all the essential nutrients required for the growth of plant [23] activates soil microbial colony by slowly release of nutrients [24]. Poultry manure (PM) is an excellent soil amendment and natural fertilizer, possess high organic nitrogen content [25] phosphorus, potassium and other essential plant nutrients [26] maintaining and establishing physical condition of soil, proper plant growth, resistant to microbial degradation, nutrients and moisture holding capacity due to its bulky nature thus helping in the sustainable production of crops [27]. Spent mushroom compost (SMC) is a good soil conditioner, increasing dry matter production, availability of plant essential nutrients, organic matter contents and improving soil structure [28]. Eggplant is a high yielding vegetable in the local market and an important source of income for the local farmers and trade [29]. Composition of eggplant is influenced by growing conditions, techniques, and genetic diversity of cultivars used [30]. This study assessed variability of growth, quality and yield among the hybrid cultivars of brinjal as affected under the organic and inorganic regimes. Hybrids have the ability to produce higher yield. There are number of variations among the hybrid cultivars of eggplant such as earliness, color of fruit skin, fruiting period length. In view of the above facts, the potent work was aimed with the objectives to evaluate the best performing hybrid cultivar of eggplant under the organic and inorganic regime and to specify the optimum regime for the improved quantitative and qualitative attributes of eggplant cultivars.

Materials and methods Experimental site
Experimental site of current experiment is located at 34.0167 ° N latitude and 71.5833 °E longitude, Ornamental Horticulture Nursery, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan. Where altitude above sea level is 350-m. Semiarid climate exist in this location, where average annual rainfall is low (300 to 500mm), 60-70% rainfall occurs in summer, likewise 30-40% rainfall occurs in winter and maximum wind speed is 35 km/h [31, 32].

Experimental design
Experiment was run in one of the basic design i.e. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split-plots arrangement which was repeated three times, eight treatments were assigned to each replicate. Whole experimental plot was divided into six main plots each having 12 m 2 of area and consisting of four subplots. Eight plants were transplanted to each subplot. Total numbers of plants per replication were 64. Organic manures (Farm yard manure at 25 + Spent mushroom compost at 10 + Poultry manure at 5 tons ha -1 ) and inorganic fertilizers (N:100, P:50, K:50 kg ha -1 ) were incorporated into the main plots whereas, cultivars such as Namli-F1, BlackBoy-F1, BSS-513 and Meiyinqienquan were kept in the subplots.

Analysis of soil
Before fertilizer application and transplantation, five composite samples of soil were taken at random with an auger at 0-30cm depths from the whole area of experimental plot, to ascertain few physicochemical parameters of soil. Samples of soil were filled in plastic bags, labeled and then analyzed for physico-chemical properties such as soil texture, EC, pH, % lime, % Organic matter, % N and P, K contents ( Table 1).

Analysis of organic materials
Manure samples were collected and tested for N, P and K contents in the Soil Science Laboratory, Department of Soil & Environmental Science at The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. The table 2 shows percentage of nutrients present in different manures.

Nursery raisings
First the nursery of four eggplant cultivars was raised. Seeds were sown on 3 rd March 2015 in pots containing a mixture of canal silt, well rotten FYM plus garden soil at 1:1:1 and was irrigated with sprinkler regularly till germination. The seedlings were ready for transplantation within four weeks of sowing, attaining a height of 15cm with 3-4 true compound leaves into the wellprepared field on raised ridges.

Results and discussion Number of leaves plant -1
Recorded data for number of leaves plant -1 is indicated in (Figure 1), corresponding ANOVA in (Table 3). From ANOVA table, it is obviously evident that there exist a highly significant difference among cultivars, growing regimes and their interaction at (p≤ 0.05) for number of leaves plant -1 . The interaction between cultivars and regimes (Fig-I)

Plant height (cm)
The data pertaining to plant height of brinjal cultivars is given in (Table 4). Its analysis of various (ANOVA) for plant height (cm) is specified in (Table 3). The statistical analysis of respective mean data showed that among all the cultivars and regimes (organic and inorganic) there were significant differences, while interaction of both the treatments was found to be non-significant (p≤0.05  Ns,*,** stands for non-significant, significant and highly significant at p≤ 0.05 level of significance respectively

Number of days to 50% flowering
In (Table 4) shows data regarding the mean of number of days to 50% flowering of brinjal cultivars while its analysis of variance (ANOVA) in Table 01. ANOVA (Table 3) showed significant differences among cultivars and regimes (P≤0.05), while their interaction for number of flowering was found non-significant. Mean value for regimes ( shows its analysis of variance. The ANOVA for number of fruits plant -1 showed that there were significant differences among cultivars, growing regimes and their interaction at p≤0.05. In (Figure 2), the interaction among regimes and cultivars showed that highest number of fruits (37.58) were produced by Namli-F1 grown under organic regime, while lowest number of fruits plant -1 (6.08) were produced under the inorganic regime for cultivar Meiyinqienquan. Reason for the more number of fruits plant -1 in Namli-F1 cultivar could be the more number of lateral branches and leaves plant -1 that produced more number of flowers which resulted in increasing fruit number. Increasing the number of fruits plant -1 by all cultivars using organic manure might be due to slow release of essential nutrients that resulted in more number of flower buds which ultimately produced more number of fruits plant -1 . The results regarding this variable are in harmony with the observation of [34] who suggested that application of 30 t ha -1 of organic manure in single and splitsplit give more number of fruits plant -1 . Similar results were also suggested by [57,58] in eggplant while [46] in chili that organic manures application resulted in increased number of fruits plant -1 . The reduction in number of fruits in brinjal under inorganic regime could be due to presence of higher amount of nitrogen which is closely linked with vigorous vegetative growth which delayed the appearance of flower buds that ultimately lead toward the decline in number of fruits [52]. Fruit weight plant -1 (kg) Mean data pertaining fruit weight plant -1 for eggplant cultivars and both organic and inorganic regimes is indicated in (Figure 3). Analysis of variance of fruit weight plant -1 is given in Table 01 which showed that eggplant cultivars, regimes both organic and inorganic and their interaction significantly (p≤0.05) affected fruit weight plant -1 . The interaction between cultivars and regimes ( fig III) indicated that highest fruit weight plant -1 was noted in cultivar Namli-F1 (3.19 kg) under organic regime and lowest fruit weight was recorded under inorganic regime in cultivar Meiyinqienquan (2.20 kg).
Maximum fruit weight plant -1 (kg) was observed in Namli-F1 which might be attributed to more number of fruits per plant or high nutrients uptake by the plant. Better efficiency of organic regime in increasing fruit weight plant -1 (kg) could be the fact that FYM in organic manures supplied most of the micro-nutrients (Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn) and NPK in an optimum level which improved the nutrient grading and water holding ability of soil [25]. The results of present investigation are comparable with the results of [34] observed that maximum fruit weight in eggplant could be due to the improved physical characteristics of soil by the use of organic manure that supply nutrients to the soil for the uptake by plants for storage. Results are also supported by the investigation of [59] in eggplant and [48] in maize where fruit weight enhanced due to application of organic fertilizers. Total yield (tons ha -1 ) In (Figure 4), revealed the results of total yield of eggplant cultivars, (Table 3) shows its ANOVA. The analysis of variance indicated that cultivars, regimes and their interaction significantly (p≤0.05) affected total yield of eggplant. The interaction between eggplant cultivars and regimes both organic and inorganic declared that under organic condition highest (78.96 tons ha -1 ) fruit yield was observed in Namli-F1, whereas in Meiyinqienquan minimum (58.29 tons ha -1 ) fruit yield was recorded under inorganic regime (Figure 4). The increased in fruit yield (tons ha -1 ) in cultivar Namli-F1 could be due to maximum fruit number and weight plant -1 or higher adoptability to the environmental condition.
The higher yield response by all cultivars under organic regime may be due to balanced C: N ratio that contributed to increase synthesis of photosynthates [60]. Organic manures also increase water holding and cation exchange capacity of soil [61], leading to enhancement in fruit yield. Minimum fruit yield under inorganic regime promoted excessive vegetative growth (no of leaves plant -1 ) that may reduce crop resistance to physiological disorders, diseases and pests [62,63].
Results are also matched with the observations of [59] that eggplant yield was enhanced significantly through the integrated use of organic manure. Similarly, increased yield in brinjal by the addition of organic manure could be attributed to supply of important micronutrients that helped in plant's metabolic activity through their early vigorous growth [64]. Results of many other researchers [65] in okra; [55] in eggplant also coincide with the conclusion of the present work. Chlorophyll content (mg/cm 2 ) Data regarding the chlorophyll content has been illustrated in (Table 4) (Table 4), corresponding ANOVA is shown in Table  01. Analysis of variance explains that for the fruit dry matter content, a significant difference among cultivars, while nonsignificant variations in regimes and their interaction at p≤ 5% were observed (Table  3). Mean values regarding fruit dry matter (%) for different cultivars revealed highest fruit dry matter in cultivar BSS-513 (8.26 %), that was statistically at par (7.91 %) with Black boy-F1 cultivar and Namli-F1 (7.88 %), while minimum fruit dry matter content (6.15 %) was recorded in cultivar Meiyinqienquan (Table 4). Enhancement in the fruit dry matter in cultivar BSS-513, Black boy-F1 and Namli-F1 might be due to the highest fruit fresh weight (kg), total soluble solids (Brix 0 ) and low moisture content in these cultivars. Present conclusion is supported by the findings of [67] who distinguished a significant distinctive trait in the fruit dry matter content of the eggplant among its cultivars. Total soluble solids (Brix 0 ) Concerned mean data for total soluble solids (Brix 0 ) is given in (Table 4), whereas its ANOVA is revealed in (Table 3). The analyzed variations among means in Table  (01) indicated that total soluble solids (Brix 0 ) was affected significantly by both regimes and cultivars however, their interaction was recorded non-significant at (p≤0.05) level of significance. Mean value (Table 02) of total soluble solids for the growing regimes depicted that more total soluble solids (2.65 Brix 0 ) was observed in plants grown under organic condition whereas least amount of total soluble solids (2.32 Brix 0 ) was recorded under inorganic regime. In (Table 4) also indicated a highly significant variation among different cultivars for total soluble solids, in which more total soluble solids (3.22 Brix 0 ) was recorded in Black boy F1, followed by Namli F1 in which 2.45 Brix 0 was observed, closely followed by Meiyinqienquan (2.23 Brix 0 ), while in cultivar BSS-513 less TSS (2.03 Brix 0 ) was recorded. The superiority of cultivar Black boy-F1 in the total soluble solids (Brix 0 ) may be due to some physiological changes in the fruit such as hydrolysis of polysaccharides of the fruit cell wall [68], breakdown of starch into sugar [69]. The reason for the higher content of TSS (Brix 0 ) under organic regime might be the release of optimum concentration of available nitrogen from organic fertilizers into root zone of the plant which promoted the activity of protein synthesis, cell division and enlargement as well as photosynthetic process which ultimately enhanced total soluble solids (Brix 0 ). Using organic fertilizers (Bio-fertilizers) for sweet pepper caused an increment in the total soluble solid in the fruits [41]. Furthermore, findings of [70] are in harmony with the present study who noticed that organic fertilization have a positive influence on the total soluble solids (Brix 0 ) of bell pepper fruit. Previous other results also supported the present study such as [71,72] in pepper fruit, while [11] in eggplant.

Conclusion
In light of the results achieved through this particular experimental work, it has been concluded that Cultivar Namli-F1 leads to enhancement in yield, resulted in maximum number of leaves, fruits, fruit weight plant -1 , total yield closely followed by Black boy-F1. Qualitative characters including total soluble solids were noticed maximum in cultivar Black boy-F1 and fruit dry matter content were proved to be superior in cultivar BSS-513. Whereas, the performance of cultivar Meiyinqienquan was inferior among all cultivars. For the better yield and qualitative attributes of eggplant cultivars, organic regime showed superiority over the inorganic regime.