Evaluation of Vegetative Estalishment of African Egg Plant (Solanum Macrocarpon. Linn) Enhanced With Fertilizer Application

This study is based on the use of organic and inorganic fertilizer application in raising Solanum macrocapon stem cuttings. The study was conducted in the Green House of the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan. The experiment considered the use of poultry manure and NPK 15:15:15 as treatments in growing Solanum macrocapon stem cuttings. There were nine (9) treatment which consisted of 7.5g, l0g, 12.5g, 15g of poultry manure and 0.75g. l.0g, l.25g and l.5g of NPK (15:15:15), each were added to 2kg of top soil while 2kg topsoil only served as control. The treatments were assigned in completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five (5) replicates. The parameters assessed includes the emergence of leaf, leaf production, leaf area, harvest yield and dry matter content, all which were subjected to Analysis of Variance and the means were separated using the Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results showed that treatment application of l.25g of NPK 15:15:15 had the highest mean value for leaf production, leaf area, and dry weight of first and second harvest, fresh weight of first and second harvest, while control has the least mean value for all the test carried out. 7.5g of poultry manure and control have the least mean value in leaf area. The results showed that treatment application of 15g of poultry manure had the highest mean value for days to first flower. There is no significant differences in the emergence of leaf. Based on the results of this study, application of NPK 15:15:15 at l2.5g per 2kg of soil is recommended for yield production of Solanum macrocarpon stem cuttings.