الفهرس 
إهْدَاء
Response of eggplant to nitrogen fertilizerOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Summary and Conclusion
The present investigation was undertaken at Mallawy Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt, during two summer seasons of2012 and 2013. Eggplant cv. Early long purple was used for this investigation to study the influence of mineral nitrogen levels, chicken manure rates andsome growth stimulator compounds treatments as well as all their combination among them on the vegetative growth, fruit quality and yield of eggplant.
Treatments were arranged in a split-split plot design at RCBDwith three replications. N levels were (60, 80, 120 and150 kg N/fed.)in the main plot (A). Chicken manure rates were distributed randomly in the sub-plots (B) at rates of (0, 2 and 4 ton/fed.)and finally, growth stimulator compounds treatments were arranged at random in the sub-sub plots (C) in the form of foliar application three times begin after two months of transplanting and with two weeks intervals period. The growth stimulator compounds were humic acid (2 ml/L), vit.c (0.7 g/L), fulvic acid (2 ml/L), alge extract (1 g/L) and yeast extract (20 g/L) furthermore control treatment (tap water).
Data on the vegetative growth were taken from each experimental sub-sub plot after 75 days from transplanting date to record the plant height (cm) and number of branches/plant. Whereas, chemical traits data represented in (chlorophyll a,b and carotenoids in leaves and NPK % content of leaves. Also, fruit quality traits (physical quality) were recorded as average fruit weight(gm),fruit length and diameter (cm), Percentage of moisture content, dry mater and ash contentas well as (chemical quality) of fruits,total phenolic content (TPC), Anthocyanincontent, Nitrate content, Fruits Iron content and finally the yield components expressed as total yield (ton/fed) and number of fruits/plant.
1. Vegetative growth traits:
1.1. Plant height (cm):
Raising N level up to (150 kg N/fed.) led to significant increase in plant height compared to (60 kg N/fed.) in both seasons.
Chicken manure rates had significant effect on plant height compared to control, Increasing chicken manure rate led to a significant increase in plant height compared to control in both seasons.
All studied stimulator compounds increased significantly plant height (cm) compared to control in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure treatment gave the higher plant height (cm) than all studied interaction treatments (AxB) in both seasons.
Interaction treatments (AxC) significantly increased plant height compared to control of each N level.
All studied interaction treatment for tow factor (BxC) significantly increased plant height (cm) compared to control in both seasons.
Concerning the three order interactions (AxBxC), the (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + vit.c treatment gave the highest plant height (cm) in the first season. whereas, the (120 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + alge extract gave the highest plant height in the second season.
1.2. Number of branches/plant:
IncreasingN level up to (150 kg N/fed.) led to significant increment in the number of branches/plant compared to (60 kg N/fed.) in both seasons.
Chicken manure rates had significant effect on the number of branches/plant compared to control, Increasing chicken manure rate led to a significant enhancingin the number of branches/plant compared to control in both seasons.
All studied stimulator compounds were increased significantly number of branches/plant compared to the control in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure treatment gave the higher number of branches/plant comparedwith all studied interaction treatments in both seasons.
Interaction treatments (AxC) significantly increased the number of branches/plant compared to control of each N level.
All studied interaction treatment for tow factor (BxC) significantly increased the number of branches/plant compared to control in both seasons.
In the three order interactions (AxBxC), the highest number of branches/plant was obtained by (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + yeast extract in the first season and by (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + alge extract in the second season.
2. Fruit yield traits:
2.1 . Total yield (ton/fed)
Increasing N-levels(80, 120 and 150 kg N/fed.)led to a significant increase in total yield compared with that recorded by the application of (60 kg N/fed.)in both seasons.
Increasing chicken manure rates increased significantly total yield compared to untreated plants in both seasons.
All growth stimulator compounds significantly raised up total yield compared to the untreated plants in both seasons. Yeast extract followed by humic acid treatments were the best for enhancing the previously mentioned trait without significance among them in both seasons.
Combined treatment (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure was the best treatment for enhancing total yield in ton/fed followed by treatment (120 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure without significantdiferances in the first season.
All combination between N levels and various studied stimulator compounds increased significantly the total yield compared to N levels alone for each N level in both seasons.
Interactions between chicken manure and growth stimulator compounds increased total yield compared to chicken manure alone for each rate of chicken manure.
Concerning (AxBxC) interaction, The best studied interaction treatment was (150 kg N/fed.)+(4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + yeast extract in both seasons.
2.2. Number of fruits/plants:
Increasing N levels increased number of fruits/plant in both seasons without significant differences except the (60 kg N/fed.).
Increasing chicken manure rates increased significantly number of fruits/plant compared to the untreated plants in both seasons.
All stimulatorgrowth compounds significantly raised up number of fruits/plant compared to the untreated plants in both seasons. Yeast extract followed by humic acid treatments were the best for enhancing the previously mentioned traits without significance among them in both seasons.
Combined treatment of (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manurewas the best treatment for enhancing number of fruits/plants followed by treatment (120 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure without significance among them in the second season for this trait.
All combination between N levels and various studied growth stimulator compounds increased significantly number of fruits/plantcompared to N level alone for each N level in both seasons.
All interaction treatments between chicken manure and stimulator compounds were increased number of fruits/plant compared to chicken manure alone for each rates chicken manure.
Concerning (AxBxC) interaction, The best studied interaction treatment was(150kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + algeor yeast extract in descending order were the best for improving number of fruits/plant in both seasons.
3. Chemical traits:
3.1.Nitrogen %in eggplant leaves:
Raising N level up to (150 kg N/fed.) led to increase significantly N % content compared to 60 kg N/fed in both seasons.
N % content was increased significantly with increasing chicken manure rates of application compared to the untreated plants in both seasons.
All stimulator growth compounds increased significantly N % in leavescompared to the control in both seasons. Yeast extract treatment was the best for improving N % content in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure treatment gave the highest N % content in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.) + yeast extract had the highest and significant N % content compared to other studied treatment in this respect in both seasons.
The (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + yeast extract gave the highest N % content compared to control and other studied treatments in both seasons.
(150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + yeast extract treatment gave the best N % content value without significant among some treatments in both seasons.
3.2.Phosphorus %in eggplant leaves:
Increment of N levels from (80 to 150 kg N/fed.) increased significantly P % content in leaves compared to (60 kg N/fed.) in both seasons.
The (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure gave the highest and significant P % content in both seasons.
Yeast extract and humic acid treatments increasedsignificantly the P % leavescontent compared to other studied treatments and control in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure gave the highest P % content in both seasons.
The(150 kg N/fed.) + humic acid or yeast extract treatments gave the best value ofP % content without significant difference between them in both seasons.
The (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + yeast extract treatment gave the highest P % in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure+ yeast extract treatment was the better for enhancement of P % leaves content.
3.3.Potassium %in eggplant leaves:
Increasing N levels up to (80, 120 and 150 kg N/fed.)led to a significant increase in K % leaves content, with insignificantdifference between (120 and 150 kg N/fed.) treatments in the second season.
The (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure gave the highest and significantK % compared to (2 ton/fed.) chicken manure and control in both seasons.
All studied stimulator compounds increased significantly the K % leaves contentcompared to the control in both seasons. Humic acid and yeast extract treatments in the first season and second season, respectively. were the best for enhancing this trait.
Regarding (AxB) interaction, the (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure followed by (120 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure gave the highest K % values.
The (150 or 120 kg N/fed.) + humic acid treatment gave the highest K % leaves contentin both seasons, respectively.
The (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + vit.c or yeast extract treatments gave the highest K % leaves content in both seasons, respectively.
The (80 or 120 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + yeast extract or humic acid gave the highest K % leaves content in the first and second seasons, respectively.
3.4.Chlorophyll (a) leaves content (mg/g FW):
Chlorophyll (a)was increased significantly with N increasing levels in both seasons.
Increasing chicken manure rate application led to a significant increase in chlorophyll (a) in both seasonscompared to control.
Yeast extract and humic acid treatments gave highest significant values of chlorophyll (a) compared to control in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.) +(4 ton/fed.)chicken manure treatments had the highest values of chlorophyll (a) in the first season and (120 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure was the best in the second season.
The (150 or 120 kgN/fed.) with yeast extract in descending order gavethe highest values of chlorophyll (a)compared to the control and other studied interaction (AxC) in the first and second season, respectively.
The (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure with yeast extract treatment was the best in both seasons. And control (without chicken manure and stimulator compounds) had the highest chlorophyll (a) values in both seasons.
Regarding the triple interaction (AxBxC), in the first season the (150 kg N/fed.) +(4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + control(growth stimulator) treatment and the (120 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + control (growth stimulator) in the second season gave the highest values of chlorophyll (a) compared to all studied treatments in both seasons.
3.5. Chlorophyll (b)leaves content (mg/g FW):
Raising N level up to (150 kg N /fed.) led to an increase in chlorophyll (b) in both seasons.
Chicken manure rates significantly enhancedthe chlorophyll (b) compared to control in both seasons.
All studied growth stimulator compounds significantlyenhanced chlorophyll (b) compared to the control in both seasons.
Highest and significant value of chlorophyll (b) was observed by (150 kg N /fed.)+(4 ton/fed.)chicken manure treatment in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.)with vit.c in the first season or with fulvic acid in the second season gave the highest value of chlorophyll (b) compared to all studied treatments among (AxC).
(BxC) interaction treatments increased chlorophyll (b) compared to control of each rates of chicken manure in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.)+ (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure plusfulvic acid in the first season or plus vit.c treatment in the second season gave the highest value of chlorophyll (b) compared to all studied (AxBxC) interaction treatments.
3.6. Carotenoidsleaves content (mg/g FW):
Increasing N levels to (80, 120 and 150 kg N/fed.)led to enhance carotenoids in both seasons.
Chicken manure at different rates increased significantly carotenoids compared to control in both seasons.
All studied stimulator compounds treatments enhanced significantly the carotenoids content compared to control in both seasons with superiority of humic acid.
The (150 kg N/fed.) with (4 ton/fed.)chicken manure had the highest values of carotenoids in the first season, whilst the (120 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure was the best in the second season.
The (150 or 120kg N/fed.) with humic acid treatments gave the highest values of carotenoids in the first and second seasons, respectively.
Highest values of carotenoids were obtained by(4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + yeast extract treatment in the first season and by (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + vit.c in the second season.
The (150 kg /fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + humic acid in the first season and (150kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.)chicken manure + fulvic acid treatment weregave the highest values of carotenoids compared to all interaction treatments among (AxBxC) in the first and second seasons, respectively.
4. Fruit quality traits :
4.1. Average fruit weight (gm):
This trait was increased significantly with increasing N levelsup to (150 kg N/fed.) in both seasons.
Increasing chicken manure rates enhanced significantly this trait compared to control in both seasons.
Humic acid and yeast extract gave the highest fruit weight in the first and second seasons, respectively.
The (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure treatment gave significant and highest fruit weight in both seasons.
Highest values of fruit weight were obtained by (150 kg N/fed.)+ humic acid in the first season or (150 kg N/fed.) + yeast extract in the second season with significant differences among them in both seasons.
The (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure interacted with humic acid treatment in the first season and (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure with yeast extract treatment in the second season were led to highest fruit weight compared to control in both seasons.
The highest fruit weight was obtained by (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + humic acid in both seasons.
4.2. Fruit length (cm):
Fruit length was increased significantly by increasing N level application compared to the lowest N level in both seasons.
(4 ton/fed.) chicken manure gave the tallest significantly fruit length compared to control in both seasons.
All studied growth stimulator compounds enhanced significantly this trait compared to the control and yeast extract had the superiority for enhancing this trait in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.) +(4 ton/fed.) chicken manure gave the highest values of this trait in both seasons.
Fruit length was increased with all studied interaction between (AxC) treatments compared to control in both seasons. The best interaction treatment between (AxC) was (150 kg N/fed.)jointly with humic acid or yeast extract compared other treatments and control without significantly differences among them in both seasons.
The (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure with yeast extract was the best in both seasons.
Tallest fruit was obtained by(150 kg N/fed.)+ (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure +yeast extract in the first season and by(150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure+ humic acid in the second season.
4.3. Fruit Diameter (cm):
Increasing N levels to (80, 120,150 kg N/fed.) led to an increase in this trait compared to (60 kg N/fed.) in both seasons.
Increasing rates of chicken manure increased significantly this trait compared to the untreated plants in both seasons.
This trait was increased significantly by all studied stimulator compounds compared to the control in both seasons.Yeast extract and humic acid treatments were the best for improving this trait in the first and second season, respectively.
The (150 kg N/fed.)with (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure treatment gave the highest values of this trait both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.)with humic acid in the first season or with alge extract in the second season gave the highest values of this trait compared to control and other studied interactions (AxC).
The best interaction (BxC) for improving this trait was (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure with yeast extract in the first season and (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure with alge extract in the second season.
The (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.)chicken manure with humic acid or with alge extract treatments gave thegreat fruit thick valuesin the first and second seasons, respectively.
4.4. Nitrate (NO3) Fruit content (mg/Kg DW):
NO3content in fruits were decreased significantly with decreasing N level compared high studied application (150 kg N/fed.)in both seasons.
The two rates of chicken manure application increased significantly NO3 content in fruits compared to the control in both seasons.
All studied stimulator compounds treatments reduced significantly NO3content compared to control in both seasons.
The results clearly indicated that the two rates of chicken manure with each N level gave the highest and significant values of NO3content compared tothe control (mineral nitrogen alone) in both seasons.
All studied interaction (AxC) reduced significantly NO3content compared control (mineral nitrogen or mineral + organic) in both seasons.Plants treated with various growth stimulator compounds reflected fruits containing lower NO3contentcompared to plants treated with mineral nitrogen or/and organic manure in both seasons.
The results clearlyindicated that the use of stimulator compounds along with mineral nitrogen and organic manure reduced NO3content in eggplant fruits in both seasons.
4.5. Fruit Dry matter %:
Increasing N levels up to (150 kg N/fed.)led to a decrease in dry matter % of fruits compared to )60 kg N/fed.) in both seasons.
This trait was significantly affected by chicken manure compared to control in both seasons.
All studied stimulator compounds significantly increased the dry matter %in fruits compared to control in both seasons.
Interaction betweenN levels and rates of chicken manure gave the lowest dry matter % inboth seasons, compared to control.
The (80 kg N/fed.) with yeast extract in the first season or with humic acid in the second season gave the highest values of fruit dry matter compared to all studied interaction of (AxC) treatments.
All interaction of (BxC) factors increased dry matter % in fruits compared to the control (chicken manure alone) in both seasons.
The (60 kg N/fed.) + (0.0 chicken manure) + alge extract in the first season or with yeast extract in the second season werethe best for increasing dry matter % in fruits.
4.6. Fruit moisture content %:
This trait was increased with increasing the N levelsand chicken manure ratesin both seasons.
All studied stimulator compounds reduced this trait compared to control in both seasons.Humic acid and yeast extract were the best for reducing this trait in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.)+ (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure treatmentgave the highest value of moisture content % in both seasons.
All treatments (AxC) reducedthe moisture content% compared to untreated plantswith stimulator compounds in both seasons.
All interaction treatments (BxC) reducedmoisture content % compared to control in both seasons and the superiority inreducing this trait was gained by yeast extract without chicken manure application.
(AxBxC) interaction treatments clearly indicated that the (60 kg N/fed.) without chicken manure plus alge extract or yeast extract gave the lowest value of moisture content % in the first and second seasons, respectively.
4.7. Fruit Ash %:
Fruit ash % was increased with decreasing N levelsof application in both seasons.
Fruit ash % was significantly reduced by increasing ratesof chicken manure compared to control in both seasons.
Humic acid treatment increased significantly fruit ash % in the first season compared to control, but differences were insignificant with control in second season.
The (60 or 80 kg N/fed.) without chicken manure gave the highest and significant fruit ash% values compared to the all studied treatments in the first seasons and second seasons, respectively.
The (60 kg N/fed.) with humic acid treatment was the best for enhancing fruit ash % in the first season. Whereas, (60 kg N/fed.) without stimulator compounds treatment was the best in the second season.
Regarding (BxC) interaction, the treatment (0.0) chicken manure + tap water or humic acid gave the highest values of fruit ash content in both seasons.
Interaction among (AxBxC), the (60 kg N/fed.) + (0.0) chicken manure + humic acid treatment was the best in the first season. Whereas, the (80 kg N/fed.) + (0.0) chicken manure + tap water treatment was the best in the second season.
4.8. Iron (Fe) fruit content (mg/100g DW):
Fruit Fe content was increased significantly with increasing N levels up to (150 kg N/fed.) in both seasons.
Fruit Fe content was increased significantly with raising chicken manure rate up to (4 ton/fed.) compared to control in both seasons.
All studied stimulator compounds treatments significantly increased fruit Fe content compared to control in both seasons.The best treatment of studied stimulator compounds was yeast extract followed by alge extract without significant differences between them in the first season. While, alge extract had the highest value of this trait in the second season.
The (150 kg N/fed.)+(4 ton/fed.) chicken manure and (120 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.)chicken manure treatments were the best for enhancing fruit Fe content in the firstand second seasons, respectively.
The (150 kg N/fed.) and yeast extract treatment gave the highest fruit Fe content compared to all studied treatments in both seasons.
The (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + alge extract treatment had the highest fruit Fe content compared to all studied treatments in both seasons.
The (60 or 120 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure with humic acid treatments gave the highest Fe content compared to allstudied treatments in this respect, in the first and second seasons, respectively.
4.9. Total phenolic compounds (TPC)fruit content (mg/g DW):
The nitrogen level incrementup to (150 kg N/fed.) led to enhance TPC in both seasons.
The higher rate of chicken manure (4ton/fed.)hadthe best TPC valescompared to control in both seasons.
All studied stimulator compounds, specially yeast extract significantly increased fruit TPC compared to control in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.)+(4 ton/fed.) chicken manure treatment gave the highest and significant TPC valuesin both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.) with yeast extract or alge extract gained the highestsignificantvalues of TPC overall studied treatments in first and second seasons, respectively.
The (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure with yeast extract treatment gave the best value of TPC compared to all studied interaction treatments (BxC) in both seasons.
The (150 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.)chicken manure with yeast extract or alge extracttreatments gave the highest TPC values in the first and second seasons, respectively.
4.10. Anthocyaninfruit content (mg/100 g DW):
Anthocyanin was increased with increasing N levelscompared to the lowest level (60 kg N/fed) in both seasons.
Anthocyanin content was increased with increasing ratesof chicken manure compared to the control in both seasons.
Most studied stimulator compounds treatments increased this trait, the superiority was obtained by alge extract followed by yeast extract treatments in both seasons.
The (150kg N/fed.)+(4 ton/fed.) chicken manure treatment produced the highest values of anthocyanin content in both seasons followed by (80 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.) chicken manure in the first season and by (120 kg N/fed.) + (4 ton/fed.)chicken manure in the second season with insignificant differences between them in both seasons.
The (120 or 150 kg N/fed.)+ alge extract treatments produced the highest values of this trait in the first and second seasons, respectively.
The (4 ton/fed.)chicken manure with algae extract or yeast extracttreatments had the highest values of anthocyanin content compared to control in the first and second seasons, respectively.
The (80 kg N/fed.)+(4 ton/fed.) chicken manure + fulvic acid or alge extract treatments had the highest values of anthocyanin in the first and second seasons, respectively.
Conclusion:
Generally, based upon the obtained results from this study, it could be recommended that:
• Combined treatments of (120 kg N/fed.+ 4 ton/fed. Chicken manure + humic acid or alge extract or yeast extract) could be recommended for eggplant production in the summer season under El-Minia governorate conditions, where this treatment reduce the nitrogen mineral fertilizer leveland gave values of high yield without significant differences with the highest yield which resulted from (150 kg N/fed. + 4 ton/fed. Chicken manure + yeast extract or alge extract).
• The treatment (120 kg N/fed. + 4 ton/fed. Chicken manure+ humic acid or alge extract or yeast extract) gave high values of plant growth traits (plant height and number of branches/plant) and high values of fruit weight without significant differences among the above mentioned treatment values and the highest values reflected by other treatments.
• The recommended treatments gave low NO3content in fruits without significant differences with the lowest NO3 fruit content. In the same time, the recommended treatment led to a high value of Fe fruit content which is very important goal reflecting positively on human health.
• Finally, it alsogavehigh content of total phenolic compounds and anthocyanin in eggplant fruits.