Article abstract

Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research

Research Article | Published June 2018 | Volume 6, Issue 2, pp. 38-46

 

Response of dry season garden egg (Solanium melongena) to watering regime and organic mulching levels in Okigwe, Southeastern Nigeria

 


 

 

Ikeh A. O.1*

Akpan E. A.2

 

Email Author

 

1.     Department of Crop Science, University of Uyo, Uyo, P.M.B.1017 Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.


2.     Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.


……....…...………..........................…………....………............…............……...........……........................................................………...……..…....……....…

Citation: Ikeh AO, Akpan EA (2018). Response of dry season garden egg (Solanium melongena) to watering regime and organic mulching levels in Okigwe, Southeastern Nigeria. J. Agric. Crop Res. 6(2): 38-46.

……....…...………..........................…………....………............…............……...........……........................................................………...……..…....……....…

 Abstract 


Rain fed garden egg cultivation is dominant in the farming systems of Okigwe southeastern Nigeria. Farmers seldom cultivate garden egg during dry season in the study area due to low soil moisture. This study was therefore designed to determine the level of water requirement and mulching level that could guarantee off season cultivation of garden egg in Okigwe. The dry season field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design, replicated three times in 7 × 4 factorial combinations. The factor A treatments was watering regimes (0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 L/ha) while the factor B was four organic (sawdust) mulching levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 t/ha). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed significant differences (P<0.05) in all the weed infestation, growth and yield parameters. The result also showed increase in mulching levels with significant reduction in weed density and biomass. The application of 1500 L/ha produced 19.13 and 18.93 t/ha fruits respectively. The least fruit yield 9.56 and 9.11 t/ha respectively, was from the control (no irrigation) treatment. The application of 3000 L/ha of irrigation water produced 1-53% and 2-56% more fruit yield than other irrigation water levels in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons, respectively. The result also indicated significant fruit yield of 22.05 and 22.62 t/ha from application of 15 t/ha sawdust while the least fruit yield; 9.80 and 9.29 t/ha, respectively was from control (no mulching) treatment. The interaction effect between irrigation water and mulching levels on fruit yield varied significantly different in both cropping seasons. The highest fruit yield, 25.86 and 26.80 t/ha, in both cropping seasons were observed between 3000 L/ha and 15t/ha sawdust while the least, 5.16 and 3.75 t/ha, was obtained from the interaction of no irrigation water and no mulching. The 1500 L/ha irrigation water and 10t/ha organic mulching (sawdust) were recommended for off season cultivation of garden egg in Okigwe southeastern Nigeria.

Keywords  Irrigation water   mulching   garden egg   growth   yield  

 

 

Copyright © 2018 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

 

 

  References 

 

Akobundu IO (1997). Weed Science in Tropics. Principles and practice, John Wiley and Sons, New York. p. 522.

Antony E, Singandhupe RB (2004). Impact of drip and surface irrigation on growth, yield and WUE of capsicum (Capsicum annum L.). Agric. Water Manage. 65:121-132.

Aujla MS, Thind HS, Buttar GS (2007). Fruit yield and water use efficiency of eggplant (Solanum melongema L.) as influenced by different quantities of nitrogen and water applied through drip and furrow irrigation. Sci. Hortic. 112:142-148.

Chartzoulakis K, Drosos N (1995). Water use and yield of greenhouse grown eggplant under drip irrigation. Agric. Water Manage. 28:113-120.

Chinedu SN, Olasumbo AC, Eboji, OK, Emiloju, OC, Arinola OK, Damia DI (2011). Proximate and Photochemical Analyses of Solanium acthioprucum L. and Solanium macrocarpon L. Fruits. Research J. Chem. Sci. (3):63-67.

Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, statistics Division, FAOSTAT (2015). Retrieved 20th November 2015. Production / Crops for Eggplant in 2013.

Gbadamosi AA, Iremiren GO, Aladesema RD (2003). Effect of Weeding Regime and Atrazine Application on Soil Factors of Growth Performance of Maize in Rain Forest Area of Nigeria. J. Agric. For. Fish. 3(4):58-62.

Hagan RM, Howard RH, Talcoh WE (2008). Irrigation of Agricultural Land. America Society of Agronomy, USA. pp. 680-681.

Ibia TO, Udo EJ (2009). Guide to Fertilizer Use for Crops in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Sibon Books Limited, Festac, Lagos, Nigeria. pp. 104.

Mark S (2015). Mulching for Weed Management in Organic Vegetable Production. Organic Agriculture Extension. Virginia Association for Biological Farming. Retrieved March 23. organicgardening.about.com.

Mohammed S, Krishnamurthy RV (2001). Simple and Indirect Method of Leaf Area Measured in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) Res. Crops 2:51-53.

Oiganji E, Jane OI, Nwafor OE, Usman N, Sanusi O (2013). Vegetative Growth and Yield of Tomatoe as Affected by Water Regime and Mulching in Proceedings of the 47th Annual Conference of Agricultural Society of Nigeria, held at Federal College of Animal, Health and Production Technology Moore Plantation, Ibadan. pp. 277-285.

Onwueme IC, Sinha TD (1991). Field Crop Production in Tropical Africa. C. T. A. Wageningen, The Nertherlands. p. 480.

Onyegbule NU, Okpara SC, Nwanguma EI, Ngbede SO, Ibekwe HN, Uwalaka AO (2014). The Effect of Different Weed Management Methods on the Growth Performance of Rough Lemon Citrus Rootstock (Citrus jambhiri (L) Lush) in Okigwe, Southeast, Nigeria. Afr. J. Sci. Issue 2:2:79-82.

Rafat S, Rafiq A (2009). Vegetative Growth and Yield of Tomato as Affected by the Application of Organic mulch and Gypsum under Saline Rhizosphere. Pak. J. Bot. 41(6):3093-3105.

Senyigit U, Kadayifci A, Ozdemir FO, Oz H, Atilgan A (2011). Effects of different irrigation programs on yield and quality parameters of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) under greenhouse conditions. Afr. J. Biotechnol.10 (34). pp. 6497-6503.

Sezen SM, Yazar A, Eker S (2006). Effect of Drip Irrigation Regimes on Yield and Quality of Field Grown Bell Pepper. Agric. Water Manage. 81:115-131.

Udoh DJ, Ndon BA (2016). Crop Production Techniques for the Tropics. 2nd Edition. Concept Publication. Ltd, Lagos, Nigeria. p. 333.