Crop Establishment of Eggplant

Land Preparation

• Plow the field at least 2 times• Plow at a depth of 15-20 cm• Harrow 2 times

Mechanical method Conventional method

land preparaion using a tractor

land preparaion using a moldboard plow

Construction of beds and furrows Using Plastic mulch -construct 1.0 m wide beds raised at 20 cm height. - Provide 0.8 space between two adjacent beds. Conventional method -Construct ridges of alternating 1.0 m -Provide 0.8 m space between ridges

Field layout when plastic mulch is usedField layout for conventional method

using planting ridges (wet season)

Planting bed w/Plastic mulch

Furrow for irrigation

1.0 m 0.8 m 1.0 m

0.5 m

1.0 m 1.0 m

0.5 m

Furrow for irrigation

Planting ridge

Fertilizer management• With plastic mulch BasalMake a small furrow on each side of the constructed beds. Apply the following

fertilizers every 10 linear meters of a planting row:

• 0.5 kg PCM or any commercial organic fertilizer

• 0.4 kg ammonium phosphate (16-20-0)

• 0.4 kg ammonium sulfate (21-0-0)

• 0.1 kg muriate of potash (0-0-60)

• Cover the fertilizers with soil, or mix them thoroughly with the soil.

Sidedress Drench 170 ml (1 small can of sardines) of fertilizer solution per hill. Follow this recommended schedule, and source and amount of fertilizer to apply

Time of Application Drenching Solution

3,5,9,13 and 17 weeks after transplanting (WAT)

3 tbsp urea (46-0-0) per 15 L water

7,11,15 WAT (fruiting stage) 3 tbsp muriate of potash (0-0-60) per 15 L water

• Conventional method (unmulched)Basal• Apply 0.5 kg PCM or any commercial organic fertilizer • 0.4 kg ammonium phosphate (16-20-0)

Sidedress• dibble fertilizer at the midpoint (25 cm) between plants along the rows• distribute it evenly in a shallow furrow 20 cm away from each planting row. For

every 2 adjacent beds

Time of Application Amount of Fertilizer

3 and 9 weeks after transplanting (WAT)

6 g (0.4 tbsp) urea (46-0-0)/hill; or120 g (8 tbsp) urea/10 linear meters planting row

6 and 12 WAT 6 g (0.52 tbsp) muriate of potash (0-0-60)/hill; or120 g (10.4 tbsp) muriate of potash/10 linear meters

planting row

15 WAT 6 g (0.52 tbsp) muriate of potash (0-0-60)/hill; or120 g (10.4 tbsp) muriate of potash/10 linear meters

planting row

Mulching The use of plastic mulch is an improved technology for tomato

production. It controls weeds, preserves soil moisture, prevents soil erosion and leaching of fertilizers, and reflects sunlight to repel insect pests hiding under the leaves.

Steps in setting up the plastic mulch: (1) Stretch the plastic mulch over the planting bed, with the silver

color on top. (2) Fasten the edges of the plastic mulch to the soil with bamboo slats

spaced 1.0 m apart. Note: If bamboo slats are not available, cover its edges with soil using a

rake, or by passing a moldboard plow near the edges.

Making Planting holes

1)Measure 0.5 m planting distance 10 cm from the edge on both sides of the plastic mulch and mark the spots.

2)Make the holes following any of these three ways: • Using a serrated-lipped tin can (7-10 cm)• Using a hot tin can (7-10 cm)• Using a cutter

making holes with a cutterpunching holes with a hot tin can

making holes with serrated tin can

• With plastic mulch -Flood the beds two days before transplanting to cool down the soil

under the plastic mulch and dissolve the fertilizers applied.

• Conventional method -Irrigate the furrows to dissolve the fertilizers applied and minimize

direct contact of the seedling roots with the fertilizers.

Transplant 21 to 30-day-old seedlings Transplant only one seedling per hole Plant seedlings at 0.5 m distance between hills. Water the transplants immediately with a sprinkler.

Transplanting

one seedling per hole

Weed Management and Side Shoots Removal

• Manual weeding

• Off-Barring at 14 DAT

• Hilling-up at 21 DAT

• Remove side shoots before the first flower emerges.

sideshoot removal off-barred eggplant field

Water Management• During rainy season, irrigate as the need

arises.

• During dry season, irrigate at 7,21 and

30 DAT or irrigate every 10 days thereafter.

• Irrigate after every fertilizer application.

1) Give at least 3 importance of using Plastic mulch?

2) What is the plant population of Eggplant in 500 m2?

Given:

Between hills: 0.5 m

Between row :1.0 m

Between double row:0.8 m