EFFECT OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON EGGPLANT (Solanum melongena L.) GROWTH AND AGRICULTURAL YIELD

Organic production of vegetables is a promissory alternative against problems of conventional agriculture. In this work, three organic fertilizers were applied to soil to evaluate their effect in the eggplant crop. Treatments used were worm humus, water hyacinth compost, a 50% worm humus +50% water hyacinth mixture and a conventional chemical fertilization as control. Variables evaluated were plant height at 30, 45 and 60 days after planting, fruit quantity per harvest, fruit length, diameter and weight per harvest, as well as crop yield. Results showed that eggplant plants supplied with organic fertilizers were higher, produced bigger and heavier fruits per harvest, with the greater agricultural yields than the corresponding chemical treatment. The best treatment of all was the 50% worm humus +50% water hyacinth mixture.