Impact of Plant Densities on Eggplant Growth and Production in Urban Horticulture Using Substrate Cultures

Document Type : Original Article

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Agricultural Research Center, Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate, Dokki 12411, Giza- Egypt

Abstract

The current investigation was carried out at the Central Laboratory forAgricultural Climate (CLAC), Giza, Egypt, during the two successive summer seasons of 2023 and 2024. The study aimed to investigate the effect of using three substrates mixtures sand: compost (80%:20%), sand: peat moss: perlite (50%:25%:25%), and peat moss: perlite (50%:50%) combined with three plant-densities (6 plant /m2, 9 plant/m2 and 12 plant/m2) for eggplant production (yield and quality) under urban agricultural conditions. Plant height, fresh and dry weight per plant, leaves number, branch number and total chlorophyll reading were determined at the end of each growing season. Total fruit weight/plant, fruit number/plant, average fruit weight and total yield per m2 were determined during the harvested period. N, P and K contents of eggplant were estimated beside an economic study. The obtained results indicated the possibility of using sand as a local and inexpensive substrate by mixing it with peat moss and perlite (50%:25%:25%) which allows for reducing the cost of the substrate and maintaining eggplant productivity. While, cultivating 9 plants/ m2 led to an increase in the yield characteristics of eggplant. The highest yield per square meter and a good economic return have been recorded for substrate mixture sand: peat moss: perlite (50%:25%:25%) combined with 9 plants per square meter

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