14. Foliar application of moringa leaf extract as a bio-stimulant on growth, yield and nutritional quality of brinjal

Abstract

Natural plant growth stimulants play important roles in triggering growth and boosting economic yield of crops. A field experiment was conducted at Soil Science Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during Rabi season in order to investigate the effect of moringa leaf extract (MLE) on growth, yield and nutritional quality of brinjal. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four treatments and three replications. The treatments were T1 (control), T2 (MLE sprayed at 2 weeks after transplanting only), T3 (MLE sprayed at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after transplanting) and T4 (MLE sprayed at 2 weeks and after every two weeks thereafter). The MLE was applied @ 25 mL plant-1 at different growth stages of brinjal as per treatments. The application of MLE significantly increased the growth and yield parameters such as plant height, shoot length, leaf number, fresh and dry weight of root and shoot, root length, number of flower and fruit, weight and length of the largest fruit and fruit yield. Among all the treatments, the growth and yield parameters were the best in T4 treatment which produced the highest fruit yield of brinjal (31.6 t ha-1 ). The same treatment also improved the nutritional quality of brinjal as the content and uptake of macronutrients (N, P, K and S) by leaf and fruit increased significantly with higher application of MLE. Thus, MLE as a foliar spray at growth stages has the potentiality to improve the growth, yield and nutrition of brinjal.