eggplant under varying levels of NPK 15:15:15 were
evaluated in both pot and field trials. Results from the pot trial showed a significant enhancement
in fruit yield with increasing fertilizer level up to 200kg/ha while other shoot’s characteristics (leaf
number, branch number and stem length) were favoured up to 300kg/ha. Unexpectedly, a
significant branch number increment at 300kg/ha did not lead to a significant yield increase. Field
trial’s results showed that growth, yield and other shoot’s characteristics greatly increased up to
200kgNPK/ha application after which there was either insignificant increment or a decline.
Increment of dry weight towards maturity suggests that there was no cessation in eggplant growth
even when partitioning of assimilates towards fruit development took place. The study concluded
that 200kgNPK/ha is adequate for optimum growth, dry matter production (pre-anthesis and
anthesis stages) and yield in both field and greenhouse conditions.