The Effect of Goat Manure and NPK 16-16-16 on the Growth and Yield of Purple Eggplant in Sandy Land

Abstract

Purple eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a horticultural crop with high economic value; however, its productivity on sandy soils is often limited by low nutrient availability and poor water retention. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of goat manure and NPK 16-16-16 fertilizer on the growth and yield of purple eggplant grown on sandy soil. A factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used with two factors: goat manure at 20, 30, and 40 t ha⁻¹ and NPK 16-16-16 at 100, 200, and 300 kg ha⁻¹. Nine treatment combinations were replicated three times, resulting in 27 experimental units. The results showed that goat manure significantly affected flowering age, fruit number, fruit length, fruit diameter, and fruit weight. NPK 16-16-16 significantly affected fruit number, fruit length, and fruit diameter, but had no significant effect on flowering age and fruit weight. The interaction between both fertilizers significantly affected fruit number at 55 days after planting. The combination of 40 t ha⁻¹ goat manure and 300 kg ha⁻¹ NPK produced the highest fruit number. Goat manure showed a more efective role in improving the growth and yield of purple eggplant on sandy soil.