EFFECTS OF CARBON DIOXIDE ENRICHED IRRIGATION ON YIELD OF EGGPLANT (SOLANUM MELONGENA) PRODUCTION UNDER GREEN HOUSE CONDITIONS

The effects of three different CO₂ concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g.l^-1) against a control (0.0 g.l^-1 CO₂) on yield of Solanum melongena cv Cava grown under greenhouse conditions.
Fruit yield increased to 13% with 0.1 g.l^-1 of CO₂ and 28% with 0.2 g.l^-1 of CO₂ compared to the control.
At 0.3 g.l^-1 CO₂, the yield increased only to 18%, suggesting that the maximum yield increase can be achieved by applying 0.2 g.l^-1 CO₂.
Carbonated water also increased the number of fruits per plant to 9%, 21% and 8% with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g.l^-1 of CO₂ respectively.
This correlated with an increase in the number of flowers to 10%, 26%, and 18%.
The average weight of fruits increased proportionally with the dose of CO₂ to 3.2%, 5.3% and 9.1% mainly because of an increase in the diameter of the fruit.
Treatments affected pH, EC and nutritional status of water extracted from soil, although leaf analysis showed no significant differences.
We can conclude carbonated water increased yield, the number of fruits per plant, and the average weight of fruits.
The maximum yield increase was obtained with 0.2 g.l^-1 of CO₂ whereas the dose 0.3 g.l^-1 of CO₂ produced the maximum weight of fruits.

V International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Current Trends for Suistainable Technologies

C. Aguilera, D. Murcia, A. Ruíz

Aubergine, yield, yield components, carbonated water, CO₂ plant nutrition

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.559.32