M.B. Rahman
Senior Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur- 1701
M. M. Hossain
Professor
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur-1706
M. M. Haque
Professor
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur-1706
N. A. Ivy
Professor
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur-1706
S. Ahmad
Director (Ex)
HRC, BARI, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh
Solanum melongena L, Growing season, Seed yield, Quality
At the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur
Crop-Soil-Water Management
Two separate field experiments were conducted at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur during April to October 2012 (summer season) and October 2012 to March 2013 (winter season). The soil was silty clay loam with a pH 5.90 and belongs to the ‘Shallow Red-Brown Trace’ soil of Salna series under Madhupur tract (24.090 N latitude and 90.260 E longitude) at 8.5 m above the sea level. The total rainfall during the growing season was 1130.80 mm in summer season (April 2012 to October 2012) and 182.80 mm in winter season (October 2012 to March 2013).
Six varieties of eggplant viz. BARI Begun-1, BARI Begun-5, BARI Begun-6, BARI Begun-8, BARI Begun-9 and Khotkhotia were used in the study. These varieties were grown separately with proper isolation in both the seasons. Healthy, uniform and disease free eggplant seedlings of 35 days old were transplanted on 25 May 2012 (summer season) and on 2 November 2012 (winter season). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The unit plot size was 0.80 m x 10.5 m and fifteen seedlings were planted in a plot with a plant spacing of 70 cm apart in single row maintaining 50 cm drain between the plots. The crop was fertilized with 210-100-120-30 kg N P K S ha-1 in the form of urea, triple super phosphate (TSP), muriate of potash (MoP) and gypsum, respectively. In addition, cowdung @ 10 t ha-1 was also applied. Total amount of TSP, gypsum, well decomposed cowdung and half of MoP were applied at the time of final land preparation while, the entire urea and rest of MoP was applied at three equal installment. First one-third of urea and one-third of MoP was applied at 15 days after transplanting (DAT) and rest amount of urea and MP were applied in two equal split at 30 and 50 DAT followed by irrigation. Flood irrigation was provided into the drain between two plots immediately after transplanting. Irrigation was applied time to time considering the moisture content status of the field. Weeding was done timely to minimize crop weed competition and mulching was done followed by top-dressing and irrigation at 15 days interval. To protect white flies and brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Admire @ 1.0 ml per litre water and Mackjoint 5 SG was sprayed at 7 days interval alternatively. Furadon 5G @ 5 kg ha-1 was also applied in the pit before transplanting.
Full ripen fruits of eggplant (60 DAA) were harvested from the experimental field. Standard size fruits (not the biggest one or the smallest) were selected for seed extraction purpose. The selected fruit were kept in ambient condition for five days post-harvest ripening. These allow the seeds to mature fully and the fruits become soften. The seeds were separated by washing under running tap water and dried to about 8% moisture content. Data on fruit per plant, seed per fruit, 1000-seed weight, seed yield per fruit, germination percentage, co-efficient of germination, seedling length, dry weight of seedling, electrical conductivity test and seedling vigour index were determined.
In the laboratory, germination test were done. Germination percentage was calculated by the following formula:
Germination (%) = (Number of seeds germinated)/ (Number of seeds tested) x 100
For electrical conductivity test, 2.00 g seeds of each sample were taken in a conical flask containing 50 ml de-ionized water and incubated at 20±10C for 20 hours. After 20 hours, water of the beaker containing seeds was decanted in order to separate the seeds. The electrical conductivity meter (Model: Lutron CD-4301)
was used. Three replications of measurements were made for each sample of seed and expressed on µS cm-1g-1.
Co-efficient of germination and vigour index were calculated using the following formula (Copeland, 1976).
Co-efficient of germination = 100(A1+ A2 + - - - - - - - - + Ax)/ (A1T1+ A2T2+ - - - - - - - + AxTx)
Where, A= number of seed germinated, T= time corresponding to A and X= Number of days to final count.
Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 42(3): 437-446, September 2017 ISSN 0258-7122 (Print), 2408-8293 (Online)
Journal