Page 203 - AJWEP-22-5

Foliar nutrient effects on eggplant cultivars

0.005 M and ammonium bicarbonate (NH HCO ) (4.88) (Figure 3). The fertilizer type had a reasonable
3
4
at 1.0 M. Available iron was measured using a positive effect, where 7.18 branches/plant were recorded
spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 672 nm. 25 in Kinglife while 6.00 branches/plant in Al-Nibras. On
(vi) Available zinc: Zinc was extracted according to the other hand, the fertilizer treatments were superior
the method described by Lindsay and Norvell. to the control in branch number. The 9 g/L Al-Nibras/
26
Available zinc was then determined in the Kinglife recorded the highest mean with 7.68 branches/
digester solution using an atomic absorption plant, while the control recorded the lowest value of mean
spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 540 nm. 27,28 with 5.07 branches/plant. Of particular importance is
that this feature was highly influenced by the interaction
All data represent the mean of three replicates per between the cultivar type and fertilizer type, where the
treatment or the average of multiple data. The Genstat
software (VSNi, United Kingdom) was used to
statistically analyze the data and compare the averages
using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the least
significant difference at the 0.05 level. 24

3. Results

3.1. Plant height
The Barcelona and Jawaher cultivars differed
significantly in plant height (Figure 2). The Barcelona
cultivar recorded a lower average plant height (79.70 cm)
compared to the Jawaher cultivar (86.82 cm). In terms of Figure 1. Climate data in the study area
fertilizer type, Kinglife resulted in the highest average
plant height (86.66 cm) in the Jawaher cultivar across
the 3, 6, and 9 g/L concentrations, whereas Al-Nibras
in the Jawaher cultivar resulted in the lowest average
(83.37 cm). In addition, there were considerable
differences among the spray concentrations. The
Al-Nibras/Kinglife control treatment (without spraying)
recorded the lowest average plant height (64.88 cm)
across all cultivars, whereas the highest average
(100.39 cm) was observed in the 9 g/L Al-Nibras/
Kinglife. Moreover, the results reveal a notable
interaction between cultivar type and fertilizer type. The
Barcelona cultivar treated with Kinglife recorded the Figure 2. Effects of cultivar type, fertilizer type, and
lowest average plant height (88.89 cm) across the 3, 6, spray concentration on plant height
and 9 g/L concentrations, whereas the Jawaher cultivar
treated with Kinglife resulted in the highest average
(96.57 cm). Furthermore, in the Jawaher cultivar treated
with 9 g/L Al-Nibras, the highest average plant height
(109.38 cm) was recorded, while in the Barcelona
cultivar treated with 9 g/l Kinglife, the lowest average
(99.75 cm) was recorded. These findings suggest a
significant improvement in the height of plants due to
the interaction between spray concentration and cultivar
type.

3.2. Branch number
The Jawaher variety presented an average frequency of Figure 3. Effects of cultivar type, fertilizer type, and
7.27 branches/plant, higher than the Barcelona variety spray concentration on branch number

Volume 22 Issue 5 (2025) 197 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025170130