Effect of Pozzolan and Nitrogen Fertilizer in Reducing Irrigation Water and Soil Moisture Stress in Three Eggplant Cultivars (solanum melongina)

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out during 2009 and 2010 seasons to study the effects of pozzolan, nitrogen fertilization levels, (50, 75, 100, and 125 kg N/ha) and four irrigation intervals (2, 4, 6, and 8 days) on fruit yield, yield components and chemical proprieties of 3 eggplant cultivars (black beauty, long purple and top bell) in a split split split plot design with three replications. The results indicated that pozzolan treatment significantly increased plant height, leaf area/ plant, no. of fruits/plant and fruit yield/ha besides total soluble solids (TSS) and vitamin C in fruit compared with the pare land (without pozzolan). Increasing irrigation interval significantly reduced plant height, leaf area/plant, no. of fruits /plant, fruit yield/ha and increased TSS, and Vitamin C in fruits. As nitrogen fertilizer increased, plant height, leaf area, no. of fruits/plant and fruit yield/ha significantly increased also TSS, and Vitamin C in fruits increased. Eggplant cultivars significantly varied in their response to pozzolan, irrigation interval and nitrogen fertilizer treatments. Black beauty cultivar significantly dominated the other cultivars in fruit yield/ ha.