Optimizing the productivity of eggplant grown in polybags with the application of buffalo manure tea
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Abstract
By optimizing container gardening practices for solanaceous vegetables like eggplant, urban agriculture and food security initiatives can be significantly advanced. This study examined the productivity of polybag-grown eggplants, focusing on polybag sizes and buffalo manure tea levels. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was utilized, featuring a 3 × 8 factorial arrangement with 24 treatments and 3 replicates. The experimental results showed that eggplants grown in 40.64 x 40.64 cm polybags demonstrated significantly higher growth and yield. Specifically, these polybags achieved average plant heights of 46.73 cm, a leaf count of 28.39, and a total yield of 2.01 kg per plant. The polybags required at least 6.5 kg of growing media, composed of a 2:2:1 ratio of garden soil, aged rice hull, and vermicompost. These findings offer valuable insights for urban gardeners and agricultural practitioners seeking to enhance eggplant productivity sustainably.
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References
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