Quantifying the Influence of Agrometeorological Parameters on Growth and Yield of Brinjal: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is an important warm-season vegetable crop whose growth, phenology, yield, and fruit quality are strongly influenced by prevailing weather conditions. This review synthesizes existing research on the effects of major weather parameters temperature, rainfall and soil moisture availability, relative humidity, solar radiation, sunshine duration, wind speed, and extreme weather events on the growth and yield of brinjal. Temperature emerges as a dominant factor regulating physiological processes, phenological development, and reproductive success, with both heat and cold stress during sensitive stages such as flowering and fruiting leading to significant yield reductions. Rainfall distribution and soil moisture availability critically affect nutrient uptake, biomass accumulation, and disease incidence, while extremes of relative humidity modify transpiration, pollen viability, and pest–disease dynamics. Solar radiation and sunshine duration govern photosynthetic efficiency, radiation use efficiency, and assimilate partitioning, thereby directly influencing fruit set, size, and yield. Wind speed and evaporative demand further alter crop microclimate, water use, and reproductive stability. The review also highlights the role of sowing time in aligning crop phenology with favourable agrometeorological windows, emphasizing the usefulness of thermal indices and weather-based yield prediction models in understanding yield variability. Additionally, the impacts of weather parameters on fruit quality traits and their interactions with crop phenology are discussed. Finally, adaptation and management strategies and key research gaps are identified, underscoring the need for integrated, climate-resilient approaches and predictive modelling to sustain brinjal productivity under increasing climate variability.