Response of eggplant crop fertigated with doses of nitrogen and potassium

Resposta da cultura da berinjela fertirrigada com doses de nitrogênio e potássio

ABSTRACT

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the response of eggplant, cv. ‘Ciça’, with respect to yield, number of fruits and dry matter (root and stem), when grown in a greenhouse and conducted under fertigation with nitrogen and potassium. The experiment was conducted in the Irrigation Technical Center of the State University of Maringá, between the months of February and August 2015. Four nitrogen doses (0.0; 6.43; 12.86 and 25.72 g of N plant^-1) and four potassium doses (0.0; 5.18; 10.36 and 20.73 g of K plant^-1) were tested, totaling 16 treatments in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme, arranged in a completely randomized design with four replicates, in a Red Latosol with sandy texture. The highest number of fruits per plant and yield were found in the range of 14-17 g of N plant^-1 (145-177 kg N ha^-1). Single doses of potassium did not statistically influence yield and root dry matter.

Key words:
vegetables; yield; greenhouse; Solanum melongena L.