Endophytic bacteria (EBI) as inoculants for improved yield of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.).

Date

2015

Abstract

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is number one vegetable crop in the Philippines with fertilizer requirement of 90-60-60 kg NPK per hectar (Full NPK). The use of endophytic bacterial inoculants (EBI) is one of the strategy to reduce the independence on expensive inorganic fertilizer such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Two separate experiments were conducted on new endophytic bacterial inoculants (EBI) for growth and yield of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) The first screening of seven (7) new EBI for eggplant was conducted from November 2012 to May 2013. The second experiment was conducted to confirm the potential of the three new EBI for eggplant from October 2013 to March 2014. The first and second experiments were consisted of ten treatments and 12 treatments respectively, with four replications. Each of the EBI was sprayed separately to the plants either singly or in combination with 90-60-60 kg NPK /ha (Full NPK) or 45-30-30 kg NPK /ha (1/2 NPK) fertilization. The treatments for both experiment also included the control, full NPK or 1/2 NPK alone. Both experiments were implemented at BIOTECH experimental area and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). In the first experiment, the results showed that higher marketable fruits yields were obtained from eggplant fertilized with 45-30-30 kg NPK/ha and inoculated with EBI 3 (Enterobacter ludwigii) (59%) and EBI 5 (Bacillus sp.)(49%) compared with 45-30-30 kg NPK inorganic fertilizer alone. In terms of total cumulative fruit yield, EBI 3 and 5 with 45-30-30 kg NPK/ha gave 75% and 72% increase in yield respectively, compared with 45-30-30 alone. Plants inoculated with EBI 3 and 5 in combination with 45-30-30 kg NPK/ha produced 129% and 114% higher marketable yield compared with full rate of NPK (90-60-60 kg NPK/ha). Apparently, the performance of either EBI 3 or 5 with 45-30-30 kg NPK/ha is comparable with 90-60-60 kg NPK per hectare. Based on these results, EBI E3 or E5 are potential inoculants for improving the yield of eggplant in combination with 45-30-30 kg NPK/ha under field conditions.

Book Title

development and filed testing of endophytic bacterial inoculants as new biofertilizer for improved production of egpplant (Solanum melongena) and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

SOLANUM MELONGENA; AUBERGINES; CROP YIELD; ENTEROBACTER; BACILLUS; ENDOPHYTES; INOCULATION; INORGANIC FERTILIZERS; FERTILIZER APPLICATION; PLANT DISEASES; APPLICATION RATES

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