EGGPLANT PRODUCTION
TYPE/VARIETIES
VARIETIES
Batangas Long Purple, Bulakena, Casino, Claveria KS, Dumaguete Jackpot, Long Purple, Tanauan KS
SPACING
larger growing varieties plant spacing can be 60–80 cm within rows 100–120 cm, For smaller growing varieties, plant spacing can be 50–60 cm within rows and 60–80 cm between rows
CLIMATE AND SOIL REQUIREMENTS FOR EGGPLANT
It is a summer-growing vegetable that requires warm to hot conditions. The optimum growing temperature range is 21°–30°C, with a maximum of 35°C and minimum of 18°C. The optimum soil temperature for seed germination is 24°–32°C. It require a light-textured soils such as sandy loams or alluvial soils that are deep and free draining.
CROP MANAGEMENT
Mulching
Mulching helps to conserve soil moisture and protects the top soil from erosion and loss of structure.
Fertilization
Apply 2.3 to 4.5kg/ha of nitrogen, 200kg/h of potassium nitrate.
Irrigation
Irrigation in egg plant can be done with furrow or drip irrigation. Critical watering periods are at flowering, fruits set and enlargement
Weeding
Weeds in eggplant fields affect production. Weeds compete with crop plants for light, nutrients, water and air. This weeds can be removed by using the following methods, Mechanical, Chemical method, Biological and hoe and uprooting.
PESTS AND DISEASES
Colorado potato beetle.
Feed on leaves and consume the entire leaves. Start with the young and soft ones can be controlled by practice crop rotation, remove weeds. Remove/plow-under crop residues.
Aphids
Pierce the plant tissues to feed on plant sap. The infected leaves become severely distorted when the saliva of aphids is injected into them. Infested leaves turn yellow
and wilt. Avoid using heavy doses of highly soluble nitrogen fertilizers. Practice split application during seedling and flowering stage.
Flea beetles
Feed on seedlings. Usually feed on the undersides of leaves. Control by row covers keep flea beetles away. Put row cover immediately after sowing.
Cutworm
Cut off seedlings at ground level. Young caterpillars eat the soft leaves of the plant. The fully grown caterpillars eat the entire plant. Control by removal of weeds to reduce egg laying sites. Plant resistant varieties and practice crop rotation
DISEASES
Late blight (Phytophthora infestans)
It leads to rotting of fruits. Controlled by Crop rotation and sanitation.
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum melongenae).
It can cause the spots on fruits and sunken. Control by Soil fumigation and improve the drainage in the field.
Root-knot nematodes
It results to wilting of plants and swollen and bearing knots. Control by use resistant varieties and practice crop rotation.
HARVESTING
Eggplant requires 65 to 85 days mature from the time of transplanting. After pollination 25 to 40 days are required for fruit to reach maturity.
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