Response of African Eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) Varieties to Compost Tea in Sudan Savanna Agro-ecological Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Field trial was conducted during the rainy season of 2021 and dry season of 2021/2022 at Teaching and Research Farm of Bayero University Kano (latitude 110 58' N and longitude 80 26' E, 475m above sea level) in Sudan savannah region of Nigeria to study the response of African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) varieties to compost tea. The treatment consisted of two variety of African eggplant (Bello and F1 Djamba) and three rates of compost tea (0, 50 and 100 litre ha-1). The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The compost tea was applied in two equal split doses at 10 and 25 days after transplanting as soil drench. Data were collected on growth and yield attributes. Significant effects of variety and compost tea were observed on plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, leaf area index, total dry matter, net assimilation rate, days to 50% flowering, number of fruits, fruit diameter and fruit yield per hectare. The variety F1 Djamba produced higher fruits yield (3482.3kg ha-1) than Bello variety (2873.3kg ha-1). Similarly, compost tea at100litre ha-1 recorded higher fruit yield (3525.5kg ha-1) than the other rates. The significant interactions between eggplant varieties and compost tea on total dry matter, net assimilation rate, days to 50% flowering, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield were also recorded. For the combined season, application of compost tea at 100litre ha-1 on F1 Djamba variety (4118.8kg ha-1) resulted in higher fruit yield of eggplant variety. Therefore, the application of 50 -100 litres of compost tea on F1 Djamba variety of eggplant is recommended to farmers in the study area.