EFFECT OF PLANT NUTRITIONAL STATUS ON THE YIELD OF EGGPLANT (Solanum melongena L.) GROWN IN ORGANIC SUBSTRATES. PART I. NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, POTASSIUM

Abstract

In the years 2002–2003, in a foil tunnel, vegetation experiment in the growing of two eggplant cultivars ‘Epic F₁’ and ‘Solara F₁’ were carried out. Plants were grown in cylinders of 6 dm³ capacity filled with substrate which consisted of: 1) raised peat (from Lithuania), 2) pine bark + low-moor peat (v : v = 1 : 1). In the vegetation period, top-dressing with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was applied. Fruit harvest was carried out many times. The total fruit yield was determined. Index parts of plants were sampled for analyses in which the following values were identified: in ‘Epic’ cultivars: 1.12–3.40% N; 0.42–1.14% P; 1.80–4.81% K. In ‘Solara’ cultivars, the following values
were found: 1.17–3.50% N; 0.53–1.27% P; 1.96–4.00% K, depending on the substrate and the fertilization level. Differences were found in the total yield and in the nutritional status of plants, depending on the substrate, fertilization level, cultivar and term of sampling.