Integrated nutrient management for enhanced growth, yield and economics of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) cv. white long F1

Introduction

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), known locally as baingan, is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed vegetables in India. It belongs to the family Solanaceae (2n = 24), is believed to have originated in the Indo-Burma region, and is now grown extensively across tropical and subtropical climates worldwide. Brinjal is valued for its nutritional, medicinal, and economic importance. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds such as phenolics and antioxidants, Brinjal contributes significantly to human health and dietary diversification (Saha et al, 2023) [42] . The crop is adaptable to a wide range of environmental conditions, suitable for both irrigated and rainfed cultivation, and valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties, including vitamins A, B6, C, and D, dietary fibre, potassium, and bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential (Kumar et al, 2021; Rani et al, 2022) [14,15,20] . Nutrient management is a critical factor influencing crop growth and productivity. The conventional reliance on chemical fertilizers, although effective in achieving immediate yield gains, often leads to nutrient imbalance, soil degradation, and environmental pollution (Sharma et al, 2019) [47] . Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) has emerged as a sustainable strategy that combines organic manures, biofertilizers, and inorganic fertilizers in an optimized manner, enhancing nutrient use efficiency, soil fertility, and crop performance (Singh et al, 2021) [57,58] . INM has been reported to improve vegetative growth, flowering, fruiting, and quality attributes in solanaceous crops, including Brinjal, by providing balanced nutrition and improving soil microbial activity (Kumar et al, 2022; Verma and Choudhary, 2021) [16,19,20,65] . Vegetative growth parameters such as plant height, leaf area, and stem girth, along with reproductive traits like flower initiation and fruit set, are strongly influenced by nutrient availability (Patel et al, 2020) [33,35] . Furthermore, the integration of organic and inorganic nutrient sources not only enhances yield but also improves fruit quality parameters, including firmness, total soluble solids, and antioxidant content, which are important for marketability and consumer acceptance (Rani et al, 2019) [40] . Despite the recognized benefits of INM, crop responses are often influenced by local soil conditions, climate, and the nature of inputs, making site-specific evaluation essential. India is the second-largest producer of Brinjal after China, with a cultivated area of approximately 730.4 thousand hectares, production of 12,800.8 thousand MT, and productivity of 17.5 MT ha ¹⁻ (Horticultural Statistics at a Glance, 2019) [12] . Despite this, average productivity remains low due in part to suboptimal nutrient management. Brinjal is a heavy feeder that responds well to fertilization, and improving its nutrition can dramatically enhance both yield and quality (Patel et al, 2020) [33,35] . The intensive use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, while initially boosting yields, has progressively degraded soil health reducing organic carbon, disrupting microbial communities, and lowering nutrient use efficiency (Sharma et al, 2019) [47] . Conversely, sole reliance on organic manures is limited by their relatively low nutrient content and slow mineralization rates. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), which combines judicious use of inorganic fertilizers with organic manures and biofertilizers, offers a sustainable pathway to optimize crop nutrition while preserving soil health (Singh et al, 2021; Kumar et al, 2022) [57, 58, 16, 19, 20] . Farm Yard Manure (FYM) a well-decomposed mixture of cattle dung, urine, and crop residues containing approximately 0.5% N, 0.2% P₂O₅, and 0.5% K₂O and Poultry Manure (PM), which has a higher and more readily available nutrient content than FYM, represent practical organic inputs widely accessible to Indian farmers. The FAO-advocated Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply System (IPNS) recommends combining such sources to mitigate environmental harm and sustain productivity (FAO, 2020; Verma and Choudhary, 2021) [65,7] . In addition to enhancing vegetative growth, integrated nutrient management has been shown to positively influence reproductive traits such as flowering, fruit set, and fruit retention, which are critical determinants of final yield (Kumar et al, 2022; Rani et al, 2022) [16,19,20] . Balanced nutrition through the combined application of organic and inorganic sources improves nutrient availability during key growth stages, resulting in higher fruit weight, increased total soluble solids, and improved antioxidant content (Patel et al, 2020; Verma and Choudhary, 2021) [33,35,65] . Moreover, INM has been reported to enhance soil microbial activity, which supports nutrient cycling and sustains crop productivity over multiple seasons (Singh et al, 2021; Sharma et al, 2021) [57,58,51,53] . Despite these demonstrated benefits, region-specific studies evaluating the effects of INM on both yield and quality traits of Brinjal under subtropical conditions are limited, particularly for hybrid cultivars such as White Long F1. Understanding these effects is crucial for developing location-specific nutrient management strategies that maximize economic returns while maintaining soil health. Considering the importance of sustainable vegetable production and the potential of INM to enhance both yield and quality, this study aims to assess the effect of integrated nutrient management on the growth, flowering, yield, and quality of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). The findings are expected to inform practical nutrient management strategies that optimize productivity while maintaining soil health and environmental sustainability. Despite considerable research on INM in vegetable crops, region-specific information for Brinjal cultivation under the agro-climatic conditions of Uttar Pradesh remains limited. The present investigation was therefore designed to evaluate the effect of varying combinations of inorganic fertilizers, FYM and Poultry Manure on the growth, flowering, yield, quality and economics of Brinjal cv. White Long F1 under the subtropical conditions of Uttar Pradesh.

Materials and Methods

Experimental site and period

The field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2024-25 at the Main Experiment Station of Horticulture, National Post Graduate College, Barahalganj, Gorakhpur, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Utter Pradesh, India, which experiences a subtropical climate with a monsoon-driven rainy season from mid-June to early October and a dry season from mid-October to early June, with mean maximum and minimum temperatures ranging from 18.5-29.7°C and 6.7-14.0°C, seasonal rainfall of 64.2 m, and mean relative humidity of 59-95% during the crop growing season. Prior to the experiment, composite soil samples collected from five random sites at 0-30 cm depth revealed the soil to be sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction, with EC within safe limits, low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, and medium in available phosphorus and potassium, representative of smallholder fields across the Indo-Gangetic plains. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and ten treatments on a gross plot of 4.0 m × 3.0 m and net plot of 3.6 m × 2.4 m, with crop spacing of 60 × 60 cm row-to-row and 45 × 45 cm plant-to-plant, where the recommended dose of 100:60:30 kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O ha⁻¹ was applied through Urea, SSP, and MOP, with full P and K and half N as basal dressing and the remaining N top-dressed in two equal splits at 30 and 45 DAT, while FYM and PM were incorporated before transplanting as per treatment allocation across ten treatments viz. (T 1 ) Control, (T 2 ) 75% NPK + 25% N through FYM, (T 3 ) 75% NPK + 25% N through Poultry Manure (PM), (T 4 ) 50% NPK + 50% N through FYM, (T 5 ) 50% NPK+ 50% N through Poultry manure, (T 6 ) 50% NPK + 25% N through FYM + 25% through PM, (T 7 ) 25% NPK + 50% N through FYM + 25% through PM, (T 8 ) 25% NPK + 25% N through FYM + 50% N through PM, (T 9 ) 75% N through FYM + 25% N through PM and (T 10 ) 75% N through PM + 25% N through FYM. Seeds of Brinjal cv. White Long F1 at 700 g ha⁻¹ were sown in raised nursery beds in November 2024, and four-week-old seedlings (4-5 leaves; 6-8 cm height) were transplanted in December 2024, established with daily irrigation for six days, followed by irrigations at 15-day intervals, weeding at 15 and 30 DAT, standard plant protection measures, and harvesting commencing at 60 DAT at tender maturity over twelve pickings at 6-8 day intervals.

Observations recorded 2.5.1 Growth parameters

Plant height (cm), number of branches plant⁻¹, stem girth (cm) measured at 5 cm above ground level, and fresh/dry weight of plants (g) were recorded at 30, 60, 90 and 120 DAT from five randomly tagged plants per plot.

Flowering characters

Days to 50% flowering (from transplanting) and number of flowers plant⁻¹ were recorded per plot.

Yield attributes and yield

Number of fruits plant⁻¹, fruit length (cm), fruit girth (cm), fruit weight (g), fruit yield per plant (kg), and total fruit yield (t ha⁻¹) were recorded from all pickings of the net plot.

Qualitative characters

Carbohydrate content (%) was estimated colorimetrically. Protein content (%) was calculated by multiplying nitrogen content by 6.25 (Fahey et al., 2019) [6] .

Economic analysis

Cost of cultivation, gross returns, net returns (₹ ha⁻¹), and Benefit:Cost (B:C) ratio were computed based on prevailing market prices of inputs and produce (₹ 8,000 t⁻¹ for Brinjal fruit).

Benefit: Cost ratio =

Cost of cultivation (₹ ha-1)

Statistical analysis

Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) as per RBD using the method of Cochran and Cox (1963) [4] . Treatment means were compared at the 5% level of significance (P = 0.05) using the Least Significant Difference (CD) test.

Results and Discussion

Among the various growth parameters studied, plant height served as a sensitive indicator of the overall physiological response of Brinjal to different nutrient management strategies. Observations recorded at four intervals 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after transplanting (DAT) consistently showed significant variation across treatments (Table 1). At the earliest observation (30 DAT), plants under T 3 (75% NPK + 25% N through Poultry Manure) attained a mean height of 26.26 cm, the tallest among all treatments, while the unfertilised control (T 1 ) lagged considerably at 15.06 cm. This pattern was sustained over the entire crop duration. By 120 DAT, T 3 recorded a final plant height of 82.60 cm, with T 2 (75% NPK + 25% N through FYM) and T 5 (50% NPK + 50% N through Poultry Manure) closely following at 75.61 cm and 75.56 cm, respectively. In contrast, the sole organic treatments (T 9 and T 10 ) despite being nutrientsupplemented showed a noticeably weaker growth response, attaining 60.71 cm and 66.58 cm, respectively, at 120 DAT. The marked advantage of T 3 and T 2 over other treatments can be linked to the complementary nature of combined organic-inorganic nutrition. Inorganic NPK provides immediately available macronutrients that drive early vegetative establishment, while poultry manure with its lower C:N ratio relative to FYM mineralises rapidly, contributing to a more sustained and steady nitrogen supply. This dual mechanism promotes active meristematic cell division and internodal elongation, both of which translate into greater plant height. Mistry et al., (2025) [26] noted a similar growth advantage in Brinjal when inorganic fertilizers were supplemented with organic manures, attributing it to enhanced root-level nutrient acquisition. Senthilkumar et al. (2024) [45] likewise found that joint application of NPK and FYM improved plant height, an effect they linked to heightened soil microbial activity and consequent improvement in nutrient bioavailability. The slower growth observed in Tand Taligns with what Patel et al. (2023) [32] described as a limitation of sole organic management: the inability to match the nitrogen release rate demanded by high-yielding, nutrientintensive crops like Brinjal, especially during the early growth window.

Number of branches plant⁻¹

Branching is a key structural trait in Brinjal as it determines the surface area available for photosynthesis, the number of nodes that bear flowers and, ultimately, the fruit load a plant can sustain. Data presented in Table .1 depict a steady increase in branches per plant from 30 DAT through 120 DAT, with treatment effects becoming more pronounced as the crop matured. T 3 produced the greatest number of branches at 30 DAT (4.75), while T 5 (50% NPK + 50% N through Poultry Manure) edged ahead by 120 DAT (18.35), with T 2 (17.95) and T 3 (17.94) following in close succession. Notably, T 9 (75% N through FYM + 25% N through PM) recorded a relatively higher late-season branch count (17.60) compared to its early-season performance, suggesting a delayed but meaningful contribution of slow-releasing organic nitrogen to axillary bud development at later crop growth stages. Control plants remained at the bottom throughout, with only 13.73 branches at 120 DAT. The promotion of branching under treatments combining inorganic and organic nutrient sources can be understood through the role of nitrogen in cytokinin biosynthesis. Cytokinins, synthesised primarily in root tips under adequate nitrogen supply, are translocated to shoot meristems where they overcome apical dominance and stimulate lateral bud activation. Phosphorus, supplied alongside nitrogen in INM treatments, further supports this process by enhancing energy availability for shoot differentiation. Maji et al. (2023) [21] documented higher axillary branch production in Brinjal when inorganic fertilizers were used alongside organic amendments, and attributed it to precisely these hormonal and nutritional interactions. Paramasivan et al. (2024) [31] similarly recorded more branches per plant in Brinjal under STCR-based NPK supplemented with vermicompost. The lateseason surge in branching under T 5 , with its higher poultry manure proportion, corroborates findings by Osei et al. (2021) [30] in eggplant, where higher organic inputs appeared to exert a more sustained influence on vegetative development over the cropping season.

Stem girth, a measure of the mechanical robustness of the plant, was consistently and significantly influenced by the nutrient management treatments across all observation intervals (Table 1). A sturdier stem is important not only for supporting the weight of fruits but also for efficient transport of water and assimilates between roots and aerial parts. At 30 DAT, T 2 , T 3 and T 4 each recorded the highest stem girth (0.71 cm), a threefold improvement over the control (T 1: 0.51 cm). At 120 DAT, T 3 retained its lead with 3.53 cm, followed by T 2 (3.22 cm) and T 6 (3.17 cm). The control recorded the narrowest stems (2.20 cm), while the purely organic treatments T 9 and T 10 showed intermediate but inferior values (2.43 and 2.98 cm, respectively) compared to INM combinations. The thicker stem observed under T 3 and T 2 reflects enhanced secondary growth driven by improved availability of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen supports active cambial cell division, phosphorus is integral to cell membrane integrity and energy transfer, and potassium maintains cell turgor all of which are essential for the expansion and lignification of stem tissue. Poultry manure in T 3 , beyond its macronutrient contribution, also supplies trace elements that serve as cofactors in cell wall biosynthesis enzymes. These physiological explanations find support in the experimental evidence of Bana et al.

(2022), who recorded significantly thicker stems in Brinjal under integrated NPK-organic manure treatments. Subramanian and Tamilmani (2023) [60] also reported superior stem girth in Brinjal when chemical nitrogen was partially replaced by organic sources, noting that such combinations ensure a more balanced and temporally stable nutrient profile throughout crop development.

Fresh and dry weight measurements at 30 and 100 DAT offer a quantitative indication of the plant's biomass accumulation capacity, reflecting the net outcome of carbon assimilation and nutrient-driven growth (Table 1). T 3 led in fresh weight at both time points, recording 193.71 g at 30 DAT and 902.37 g at 100 DAT. T 2 and T 5 followed in that order. The control registered the lowest values (125.68 g and 559.88 g), well below all nutrientsupplemented treatments. Dry weight trends mirrored those of fresh weight, with T 3 achieving 17.78 g and 49.61 g at 30 and 100 DAT, respectively, and T 1 remaining at the bottom (10.60 g and 32.06 g). Treatments with higher organic nitrogen substitution (T 7 , T 8 , T 9 ) consistently recorded lower biomass than those with a greater inorganic fraction, particularly at 30 DAT, indicating a lag in nutrient availability from slow-mineralising organic sources in the early crop phase. Greater biomass production in T 3 and T 2 stems from a convergence of favourable factors: enhanced nitrogen drives photosynthetic pigment production and enzymatic activity, while improved soil physical properties better aggregation, porosity and water-holding capacity resulting from organic manure addition support deeper and more extensive root exploration. This synergy between soil chemistry and biology allows plants to access a wider pool of nutrients and moisture, amplifying carbon fixation and dry matter accumulation. Paramasivan et al. (2024) [31] reported significantly greater fresh and dry matter yield in Brinjal under combined STCR-NPK and vermicompost treatments, attributing the result to improved rhizosphere conditions. Batabyal et al. (2022) observed a similar pattern in eggplant, where combined organic-inorganic management outperformed either approach used alone for biomass production. [20] reported that INM treatments with organic manures significantly enhanced flower count in Brinjal, an observation also made by Paramasivan et al. (2024) [31] under field conditions in Alfisols. The delayed flowering under Tand Tlikely reflects slower early-season nitrogen mineralisation from organic sources, which postpones the physiological readiness for reproductive transition a constraint previously highlighted by Sujatha et al. (2021) [61] in similar cropping systems.

Yield attributes

The yield attributes of Brinjal fruits plant⁻¹, fruit length, fruit girth and individual fruit weight represent the proximate drivers of final productivity. Data on these parameters are presented in Table 2 The strong performance of T 3 in terms of fruit number and girth is a direct downstream consequence of the superior flowering documented in Section 4.5. Calcium and boron, both of which are supplied in appreciable amounts through poultry manure, play decisive roles in cell wall formation and fruit set, reducing the incidence of flower drop and premature fruit abortion. The somewhat higher individual fruit weight in T 6 compared to T 3 may reflect a source-sink effect: with fewer fruits competing for assimilates, each individual fruit receives a proportionally greater share, resulting in a heavier but fewer total yield. Senthilkumar et al. (2024) [45] and Mistry et al., (2025) [26] both reported superior fruit dimensions and fruit set percentage in Brinjal under combined inorganic-organic treatments. Osei et al.

(2021) [30] , working with eggplant under similar management conditions, found that poultry manure-based INM significantly improved both fruit weight and volume compared to treatments relying exclusively on either organic or inorganic nutrients.

Fruit yield

Fruit yield both per plant and per hectare is the ultimate integrated expression of all growth, developmental and reproductive processes in the crop. Data are presented in Table 2. T 3 recorded the highest fruit yield of 1.03 kg plant⁻¹, equivalent to 23.49 t ha⁻¹, while T 2 followed at 0.97 kg plant⁻¹ (22.29 t ha⁻¹). T 5 and T 4 ranked third and fourth at 20.22 and 18.53 t ha⁻¹, respectively. The control recorded the lowest yield at 7.68 t ha⁻¹, barely one-third of T 3 . Purely organic treatments T 9 and T 10 , despite receiving substantial nutrient inputs, yielded only 10.47 and 13.85 t ha⁻¹ confirming that organic sources alone, at the substitution rates evaluated, were insufficient to realise the yield potential of the crop.

The yield advantage of T 3 over all other treatments is not attributable to any single factor but is rather the cumulative result of consistently superior performance across every growth stage and physiological process: more vigorous vegetative development, earlier and more abundant flowering, better fruit set and larger fruit dimensions. The inorganic component of T 3 meets the crop's immediate nutrient demand at critical growth phases, while poultry manure owing to its lower C:N ratio than FYM contributes a more timely secondary nutrient release compared to bulkier organic sources. The interaction between these two pools creates a nutrient environment that is both adequate in quantity and consistent in supply over the season. Patel et al.

(2023) [32] and Mistry et al. (2025) [26] documented the highest Brinjal yield under 75% NPK with 25% N from organic sources, directly corroborating these findings. Sarangi et al. (2025) [43] noted that replacing 25% of chemical N with FYM-derived N improved yield over 100% inorganic N application, attributing the gain to improved soil microbial biomass carbon and nutrient use efficiency.

The substantially lower output from purely organic treatments is in line with what Sujatha et al. (2021) [61] described as a structural limitation of organic-only systems: the inability to consistently match crop nitrogen demand during peak vegetative and reproductive phases, especially in low-to-medium fertility soils.

Carbohydrate and protein content of brinjal fruit

With consumer awareness of nutritional quality rising alongside productivity concerns, the effect of nutrient management on the biochemical composition of Brinjal fruit was assessed in terms of carbohydrate and protein content per 100 g of fresh weight (Table 3).

Carbohydrate content was highest in T 3 (3.92%), followed by T 2 (3.84%) and T 5 (3.54%). Control fruits recorded just 2.71%, while intermediate values were obtained from treatments with a higher organic fraction (T 7: 3.04%, T 8: 3.12%, T 9: 2.92%). Protein content followed a broadly similar gradient, peaking in T 3 (1.82%) and T 2 (1.80%) and reaching its minimum in T 1 (1.22%). The narrow gap between T 2 and T 3 for both parameters well within the CD values of 0.22% and 0.13%, respectively indicates that either treatment produces nutritionally equivalent fruit quality.

The enrichment of carbohydrate and protein content in fruits of T 3 and T 2 plants is mechanistically tied to their superior vegetative development and photosynthetic capacity. A larger canopy area captures more radiation, channelling greater quantities of photoassimilates into fruit development. Nitrogen, abundantly and stably supplied under these INM treatments, is the foundational element for amino acid and protein biosynthesis, while phosphorus activates key enzymes of both the Calvin cycle and glycolytic pathways that produce simple sugars subsequently polymerised into storage carbohydrates. The contribution of organic manures to trace element supply particularly manganese and iron, which are cofactors in photosynthetic electron transport further strengthens the photosynthetic and metabolic machinery of the plant. Subramanian and Tamilmani (2023) [60] reported analogous improvements in carbohydrate and protein content in eggplant under INM treatments that combined inorganic nitrogen with organic amendments. Osei et al. (2021) [30] , examining proximate composition of eggplant fruits, similarly found that poultry manure-enriched INM treatments produced fruits with measurably higher protein and total carbohydrate content than those grown under either sole inorganic fertilization or control conditions. Sujatha et al. (2021) [61] also documented improved sugar and protein levels in Brinjal fruit under integrated organic-inorganic management, attributing the gains to the holistic improvement in soil nutrient status and plant metabolic activity.

Economics of cultivation

The agronomic superiority of a treatment carries practical value only when it translates into favourable economic outcomes for the farmer. A comprehensive economic analysis was carried out for all treatments, encompassing cost of cultivation, gross returns, net returns and benefit:cost ratio (Table 4).

In terms of absolute monetary returns, T 3 outperformed all others with gross returns of Rs. These economic outcomes reveal a clear pattern: the financial viability of a treatment is governed by the balance between the cost of organic inputs and the yield gain they generate. When poultry manure is used at modest supplementary doses, as in T 3 and T 2 , it enhances yield sufficiently to offset its cost with a comfortable profit margin. At higher substitution rates or when used as the primary nutrient source, however, the cost of manure application outpaces the marginal yield benefit, eroding profitability. Mistry et al. (2025) [26] similarly found that the combination of 75% NPK with 25% organic N gave the best economic efficiency among INM treatments for Brinjal, primarily because it holds cultivation costs in check while sustaining a high yield level. Kumar et al. (2022) [20] , in their economic study of Brinjal cultivation in Mau district, Uttar Pradesh, found that integrating organic inputs with a reduced chemical fertilizer dose consistently yielded higher B:C ratios than conventional full-dose chemical treatment.

The poor economic performance of Tand Treflects their fundamental limitation: organic manures at full Nsubstitution rates are expensive, release nutrients slowly leading to lower yields and provide relatively little phosphorus and potassium relative to crop demand, making them economically uncompetitive as standalone fertility sources. These findings collectively affirm that INM, with organic manures serving as strategic supplements rather than primary inputs, offers the most financially prudent path forward for Brinjal cultivation.

Summary

Examining the full dataset across growth, reproductive, yield and quality parameters alongside economic indicators, two treatments stand out consistently. T 3 (75% NPK + 25% N through Poultry Manure) demonstrated the strongest agronomic performance leading in plant height, stem girth, biomass, flower number, fruits per plant, fruit yield (23.49 t ha⁻¹) and nutritional quality, and generating the highest absolute net returns. T 2 (75% NPK + 25% N through FYM) closely matched T 3 across all measured parameters and proved to be the economically superior option, with the highest B:C ratio of 2.87. Treatments relying exclusively on organic nitrogen (T 9 and T 10 ) were consistently outperformed by INM combinations for both productivity and profitability. These results collectively underscore that integrating a modest proportion of well-chosen organic manure within a primarily inorganic fertilization framework is the most effective strategy for optimising Brinjal yield, quality and farm income under the conditions studied.

Conclusion

The present investigation on the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield, quality and economics of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) clearly establishes the superiority of combined organic-inorganic nutrient management over either sole chemical fertilization or sole organic nutrient management approaches.

References

1. Anburani A, Manivannan K. Effect of INM on growth in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) cv. Annamalai. South Indian Horticulture. 2002;50(4-6):377-386.
2. Batabyal K, Mandal B, Sarkar D, Murmu S. Assessment of nutrient management technologies for eggplant production under subtropical conditions: a comprehensive approach. Experimental Agriculture. 2017;53(4):588-608.
3. Chatterjee R, Bandyopadhyay S, Jana JC. Impact of organic amendments and inorganic fertilizers on production potential, nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). International Journal of Scientific Research in Knowledge. 2014;2(5):233-240.
4. Cochran WG, Cox GM. Experimental Designs. Bombay, India: Asia Publishing House; 1963.
5. Dange RG, Naik DM, Prabu T. Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). South Indian Horticulture. 2002;50(4-6):578-583.
6. Fahey GC, Novotny L, Layton B, Mertens DR. Critical factors in determining fiber content of feeds and foods and their ingredients. Journal of AOAC International. 2019;102(1):52-62.
7. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. FAOSTAT statistical database. FAO; 2020.
8. Gomez KA, Gomez AA. Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research, 2nd edition. New York: John Wiley and Sons Inc.; 1976.
9. Gupta AK, Sharma RK, Tiwari RS. Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under Indo-Gangetic plain conditions. Indian Journal of Horticulture. 2023;80(1):45-52.
10. Gupta AK, Sharma RK, Tiwari RS. Economic feasibility of integrated nutrient management in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) cultivation under IndoGangetic plain conditions. Indian Journal of Horticulture. 2021;78(3):210-217.
11. Gupta AK, Sharma RK, Tiwari RS. Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under Indo-Gangetic plain conditions. Indian Journal of Horticulture. 2023;80(1):45-52.
12. Horticultural Statistics at a Glance. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India; 2019.
13. Kashyap S, Kumar S, Maji S, Kumar D. Effect of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) cv. Pant Rituraj. International Journal of Agricultural Science. 2014;10(1):305-308.
14. Kumar A, Singh R, Jha P. Bioactive compounds and health benefits of Brinjal: A review. Vegetable Research. 2021;44(2):101-110.
15. Kumar S, Mishra SK, Pandey A. Biochemical composition and nutritional quality of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) fruits as influenced by integrated nutrient management. Journal of Horticultural Sciences. 2021;16(2):178-185.
16. Kumar S, Mishra SK, Pandey A. Fruit set and yield attributes of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) as influenced by integrated nutrient management. Journal of Horticultural Sciences. 2022;17(2):145-152.
17. Kumar S, Singh AK, Mishra SK. Response of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) to integrated nutrient management on vegetative growth and branching behaviour under subtropical conditions. Vegetable Science. 2019;46(2):112-118.
18. Kumar V. Use of integrated nutrient management to enhance soil fertility and crop yield of hybrid cultivar of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under field conditions. Advances in Plants and Agricultural Research. 2016;4(2):1-9.
19. Kumar V, Rathi S, Meena M. Effects of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of Brinjal. Vegetable Science. 2022;49(1):32-39.
20. Kumar V, Singh SK, Mishra A. Economic study on various costs and profit measures of Brinjal crop in Mau District of Uttar Pradesh. Research Gate Publication; 2022.
21. Maji D, Bandyopadhyay B, Mondal SS. Effect of integrated nutrient management on branching pattern and yield of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) in alluvial soil. Vegetable Science. 2023;50(1):19-26.
22. Marif AA. Effect of uncomposted Human Hair, Poultry Manure and Mineral Fertilizer on Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Growth And Productivity. Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences. 2024;15(4).
23. Meena RS, Kumar V, Lal R. Flowering and reproductive behaviour of Brinjal under integrated nutrient management in subtropical conditions. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science. 2021;184(2):310318.
24. Meena RS, Kumar V, Yadav GS, Lal R. Influence of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on growth attributes of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science. 2022;185(3):398-407.
25. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. Horticultural statistics at a glance. www.agricoop.nic.in; 2019.
26. Mistry SJ, Pandya MM, Joshi VI. Integrated nutrient management in Brinjal (Solanum melongena l.). Plant Archives (09725210). 2025;25(2).
27. Mondal M et al. An Economic Analysis of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) Cultivation in Nadia District of West Bengal, India. 2019.
28. Naidu AK, Kershwah SS, Dwivedi. Influence of organic manures, chemical and biofertilizers on growth, yield and economics of Brinjal. South Indian Horticulture. 2002;50(4-6):370-376.
29. Nanthakumar S, Veeraragavathatham D. Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth parameters and yield of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) cv. PBR1. South Indian Journal of Horticulture. 2000;48(16):195-198.
30. Osei MK, Anning AK, Amoah AA, Asiedu EA. Yield response and proximate composition of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) to poultry manure and inorganic fertilizer combination. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 2021;44(5):679-690.
31. Paramasivan M, Vijayalakshmi G, Gnanamani KA. Effect of organic amendments on growth and yield of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L. cv. KKM 1) and physico-chemical properties of Alfisols of Tamirabarani tract. Killikulam: V.O. Chidambaranar Agricultural College and Research Institute; 2024.
32. Patel A, Sharma RP, Gupta N. Organic management practices of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) a review. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts. 2023;11(5):IJCRT 2 305424.
33. Patel JR, Patel BT, Patel HC. Influence of organic and inorganic nutrient sources on fruit set and yield of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). Asian Journal of Horticulture. 2020;15(2):112-118.
34. Patel JR, Patel BT, Patel HC. Effect of integrated nutrient management on stem girth, plant vigour and yield of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). Asian Journal of Horticulture. 2021;16(1):78-84.
35. Patel S, Jha R, Singh K. Influence of nutrient management on vegetative and reproductive growth of Brinjal. International Journal of Plant Production. 2020;14(2):77-85.
36. Rai N, Yadav DS, Asati BS. Fruit quality and yield of Brinjal as affected by integrated use of chemical fertilizers and organic manures. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2022;92(5):612-618.
37. Rai N, Yadav DS, Asati BS. Effect of integrated nutrient management on fruit quality parameters including carbohydrate and protein content of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2021;91(6):874-879.
38. Rai N, Yadav DS, Asati BS. Integrated nutrient management in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.): Effect on dry matter accumulation and productivity. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2021;91(4):562-567.
39. Rajbirsingh and Ramasrey. Integrated nutrient management in tomato under semiarid region of Punjab. Vegetable Science. 2005;2:194-195.
40. Rani R, Singh N, Sharma P. Effect of integrated nutrient management on fruit quality of Brinjal. Vegetable Research. 2019;42(3):199-206.
41. Renuka B, Ravisankar C. Effect of organic manures on growth and yield of tomato. In: Proc Natl Seminar on Changing Scenario in the Production System of Horticultural Crops. Coimbatore: TNAU; 2001:215218.
42. Saha P, Singh J, Bhanushree N, Harisha SM, Tomar BS, Rathinasabapathi B. Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) nutritional and health promoting phytochemicals. In: Compendium of crop genome designing for nutraceuticals. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore; 2023:1-32.
43. Sarangi SK, Mohanty RK, Munilkumar S, Sundaray JK. Agroecology and Integrated Farming System. CRC Press; 2025.
44. Saravaiya SN, Patel NB, Ahir MP, Patel NM, Desai KD, Patel JB. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) approach for Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) and other solanaceous vegetables-a review. Agricultural Reviews. 2010;31(2).
45. Senthilkumar T, Ravi I, Kannan P. Growth, yield and soil fertility of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) as influenced by integrated nutrient management practices. ResearchGate Publication; 2025.
46. Sharma M, Bhati D, Singh SK. Integrated Nutrient Management Approach for Modulating Growth Performance in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). Biopesticides International. 2024;20(2).
47. Sharma N, Verma S, Gupta R. Impact of chemical fertilizers on soil health and crop productivity: A review. Environmental Sustainability Journal. 2019;7(2):101-112.
48. Sharma SK, Singh RV. Growth and yield response of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) to varying levels of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Progressive Horticulture. 2020;52(2):189-195.
49. Sharma SK, Yadav RK. Cost-benefit analysis of organic and inorganic fertilizer combinations in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) production. Progressive Horticulture. 2022;54(1):67-74.
50. Sharma SK, Singh RV, Kaur H. Fruit dimensions and marketable yield of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under varying levels of integrated nutrient management. Progressive Horticulture. 2020;52(1):78-85.
51. Sharma S, Meena RK, Yadav P. Role of integrated nutrient management in improving soil health and vegetable productivity. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 2021;44(12):1805-1817.
52. Sharma SK, Singh RV. Growth and yield response of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) to varying levels of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Progressive Horticulture. 2020;52(2):189-195.
53. Sharma SK, Jain D, Choudharya R, Jata G, Jain P, Bhojiya AA, et al. Microbiological and enzymatic properties of diverse jaivikkrishi inputs used in organic farming. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2021;20:237-243.
54. Sharma SK, Singh RV, Kaur H. Nutritional quality and biochemical attributes of Brinjal fruits under varying levels of organic and inorganic fertilizer combinations. Progressive Horticulture. 2020;52(2):143-150.
55. Shelke SR, Adsule RN, Amrutsagar VM. Effect of conjunctive use of organic sources with urea fertilizer on soil chemical properties, yield and quality of Brinjal. Journal of Indian Society of Soil Science. 2001;49(3):506-508.
56. Singh KP, Kalloo G. Integrated nutrient management (INM) approach for Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) and other solanaceous vegetables. Fertilizer News. 2000;45:77-81.
57. Singh R, Choudhary A, Yadav P. Integrated nutrient management for sustainable vegetable production. Indian Journal of Agronomy. 2021;66(1):10-18.
58. Singh R, Sharma A, Gupta N. Phenological and yield response of Brinjal to combined application of inorganic fertilizers and poultry manure. Horticultural Flora Research Spectrum. 2021;10(2):134-140.
59. Sinha SR, Singh JP, Pandey UB. Effect of integrated nutrient management on plant height and growth parameters of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under field conditions. Horticultural Flora Research Spectrum. 2020;9(3):201-207.
60. Subramanian KS, Tamilmani C. Enhancing nutrient utilization in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) through integrated nutrient management: growth, yield and quality parameters. Biochem Journal of India. 2023;8(4):39-546.
61. Sujatha BN, Suresh S, Ravi S. Direct and residual impact of nutrient management through organic and inorganic sources on growth and yield attributes in Brinjal-fenugreek cropping sequence. Journal of Vegetable Science. 2021.
62. Thingujam U, Kundu D, Khanam R, Manik D, Thingujam V. Integrated nutrient management in Brinjal A review study. Agricultural Research and Technology: Open Access Journal. 2016;1(3):1-4.
63. Vasuniya KS. Effect of integrated nutrient management practices on growth and yield of chilly (Capsicum annuum Linn) cv. 'Pusa Jwala'. M.Sc. thesis, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya; 2012.
64. Verma AR. Economics of production, resource use efficiency, marketing and constraints of potato in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh. Journal of Agricultural Marketing. 2007;3:21-30.
65. Verma A, Choudhary D. Role of biofertilizers and organic amendments in vegetable production. Journal of Soil and Crop Management. 2021;18(4):55-64.
66. Verma A, Singh M. Fruit size, weight and quality of Brinjal as influenced by integrated nutrient management practices. Journal of Horticultural Sciences. 2021;16(1):88-95.
67. Verma A, Singh M, Tiwari A. Productivity enhancement in Brinjal through balanced integration of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers. Journal of Horticultural Sciences. 2022;17(1):93-100.