Earliness and yield parameters of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) grafts under different spacing and fertigation levels

Field study was undertaken to standardize spacing and fertigation levels for eggplant(Solanum melongena L.) grafts. A strip plot design was adopted with four spacing levels (1 × 1, 2 × 1, 1.5 × 1.5 and 0.6 × 0.6 m) and three fertigation levels: 75, 100 and 125% recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF) replicated four times. After six months, the plants were pruned to obtain the ratoon crop which lasted four months. The days taken for 50% flowering and first harvest were affected by nutrition and neither spacing nor interaction. The 75 and 100% RDF were on par for early flowering (32.00 and 32.38 days in main crop; 16.88 and 17.00 days in ratoon crop); and early harvest (44.38 and 45.44 days in main crop; 34.38 and 35.56 days in ratoon crop). The treatment combination 1 × 1 m + 100% RDF recorded the highest marketable yield of 110.25 and 59.42 t/ha, in main and ratoon crops, respectively. Thus, cultivation of eggplant grafts under 1 × 1 m spacing along with 100% RDF (200:150:100 kg NPK/ha) through drip fertigation is recommended.   Key words: Fertigation, plant density, Solanum melongena L., vegetable grafting.