Effect of Irrigation and Straw Mulch on Yield and Yield Components of Eggplant (Solanum Melongena L.)

ABSTRACT: The effects of irrigation interval and straw mulch on eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) in a field trial at Astaneh Ashrafiyeh, Guilan, Iran during 2011 were studied. Experiment was conducted out in split plot based on randomized completely block design with three replications. Irrigation levels were the main-plots consisted of four levels (no irrigation, 6 days interval and 12 days interval). Straw mulch included of four levels of straw mulch (0, 1, 2 and 3 cm per plot) was assigned to sub-plots. The results of this study showed that among irrigation treatments, the highest amounts of all studied traits of eggplant included of plant height, fruit length, fruit diameter, number of fruit per m2 and fruit yield were observed in 6 days interval irrigation (P?0.01). On the other Results also illustrated that plants that received 2 cm mulch in per plat produced the highest fruit yield and yield-determining traits than those in the control treatment. In addition, regarding to the interaction effects between irrigation intervals and straw mulch, it could be concluded that irrigation of eggplants every 6 days and application of 2 cm mulch in per plat resulted in the highest yield with 51.1 ton/ha attributes.