Cultivation of Brinjal (Solanum melongena)

Brinjal, also known as eggplant or aubergine, is an important vegetable in many cuisines across the world. Cultivating brinjal successfully requires an understanding of its soil, climate, nursery preparation, management practices, and pest and disease control. Let’s break down the process of cultivating brinjal in detail.

• Scientific Name: Solanum melongena
• Common Names: Brinjal (India), Eggplant (Western countries), Aubergine (Europe), Baingan (Hindi)
• Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
• Origin: Brinjal is believed to have originated in India and Southeast Asia. It has been cultivated for over 4,000 years.

Botanical Characteristics

• Plant Type: Brinjal is a perennial plant but is typically grown as an annual in many parts of the world due to its sensitivity to frost.
• Height: The plant typically grows to a height of 60 cm to 1.5 meters, depending on the variety.
• Leaves: Large, broad, and dark green leaves.
• Flowers: Brinjal flowers are white to purple with a five-petaled structure.
• Fruit: The fruit is a berry and varies in shape, size, and color. Common forms are elongated, round, or oval with a color ranging from purple, white, green, and yellow.
• Seeds: Small, flat, and oval-shaped seeds found inside the fruit.

Nutritional Value

Brinjal is a low-calorie vegetable, rich in dietary fiber and vitamins. Its nutritional profile includes:

• Calories: Around 25-30 calories per 100 grams.
• Carbohydrates: About 6 grams per 100 grams.
• Proteins: Around 1 gram per 100 grams.
• Fats: Very low, around 0.2 grams per 100 grams.
• Vitamins and Minerals: Brinjal is a good source of vitamins A, B1, B3, B5, B6, C, and K. It also contains minerals like potassium, magnesium, and iron.
• Antioxidants: Contains anthocyanins, which provide antioxidant properties that help fight oxidative stress.

Soil and Climatic Requirements

Soil Requirements:

• Soil Type: Brinjal grows well in a variety of soils, but the ideal soil is loamy, especially silt loam and clay loam soils.
• Soil pH: It prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH, typically between 5.5 and 6.8.
• Soil Fertility: The soil should be deep, fertile, and well-drained. It should also be free from waterlogging to avoid root rot.

Climate Requirements:

• Temperature: Brinjal is a warm-season crop and thrives in temperatures ranging from 21°C to 29°C. Temperatures below 21°C can stunt growth and affect fruit formation, resulting in deformed fruits.
• Frost Sensitivity: The plant is highly sensitive to frost, which can damage or kill it.
• Humidity: Brinjal grows best in moderate humidity, but it can tolerate drought conditions better than excessive rainfall.
• Rainfall: Excessive rainfall can damage the crop, especially if the field is not well-drained.

Varieties of Brinjal

There are numerous varieties of brinjal, and they can be classified based on shape, color, and size. Some of the prominent varieties include:

• IARI Varieties: Pusa Shymala, Pusa Purple Long, Pusa Purple Cluster, Pusa Kranti, Pusa Bhairav, Pusa Anmol (Hybrid), Pusa Hybrid 5 (long), Pusa Hybrid 6 & 9 (round).
• IIHR Varieties: Arka Sheel, Arka Shirish, Arka Kusumkar, Arka Navneet (Hybrid), Arka Nidhi, Arka Keshav, Arka Neelkanth.
• IIVR Varieties: Long Fruited: Kashi Manohar, Kashi Shyama, Kashi Taru, Kashi Green Long, Kashi Ganesh. Round Fruited: Kashi Vijay, Kashi Modak, Kashi Himani (Oblong Fruited).
• PAU Varieties: Punjab Chamkila, Punjab Sadabahar, Punjab Neelam, PH-4, Selection-4.
• Other Varieties: Hisar Jamuni, Hisar Shyamal, Annamalai, Surya, Phule Hybrid 1, Aruna, Manjarigota.

Land Preparation

• Ploughing: The field should be thoroughly ploughed 4-5 times with a country plough or tractor. This helps break the soil into smaller pieces and provides a loose bed for root growth.
• Leveling: After ploughing, the soil should be levelled to ensure proper water drainage.
• Organic Manure: Apply 200-250 quintals of FYM (Farm Yard Manure) per hectare. This should be mixed well with the soil at the time of ploughing to enhance fertility and soil structure.
• Fertilizer Application:
  • Nitrogen (N): 75-100 kg/ha.
  • Phosphorus (P2O5): 50-60 kg/ha.
  • Potassium (K2O): 50-60 kg/ha.
  • Apply half the nitrogen and full doses of phosphorus and potassium during soil preparation. The remaining nitrogen should be applied 30-35 days after transplanting.

Nursery Preparation and Transplanting

• Sowing Time: The ideal time to sow seeds for brinjal cultivation varies depending on the region:
  • Spring-Summer Crop: November to February.
  • Rainy Season Crop: June-July.
• Seed Rate:
  • Open-pollinated (OP) varieties: 500-700g per hectare.
  • Hybrid varieties: 350-400g per hectare.
• Germination: Seeds should be sown in nursery beds that are prepared using fine, well-drained soil.
• Transplanting: After about 35-40 days, the seedlings should be transplanted into the field when they have 4-5 true leaves.

Spacing for Planting:

• Dwarf Varieties: Plant at a distance of 60 cm × 45 cm.
• Tall Varieties: Plant at a distance of 90 cm × 60 cm.

Irrigation

• Frequency: Brinjal requires consistent irrigation.
  • Summer: Irrigate at 1-week intervals.
  • Winter: Irrigate every 10-15 days.
  • Rainy Season: Irrigation depends on the frequency and intensity of rainfall.
• Water Requirements: Brinjal typically requires about 100-110 cm of water during the growing season.

Weed Management

• Critical Period for Weed Control: Weeds need to be controlled during the first 30-50 days after transplanting.
• Manual or Chemical Control: Weeds can be controlled by manual weeding or using herbicides. Frequent weeding ensures the plants do not compete for nutrients and water.

Pest and Disease Management

• Major Pests:
  • Shoot and Fruit Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis): This is a major pest, especially in spring-summer crops. Integrated pest management (IPM) practices are recommended to control this pest.
  • Whitefly and Aphids: These pests can also cause harm, and regular pest control measures should be adopted.
• Diseases:
  • Little Leaf Disease: This is more common in the autumn-winter and rainy seasons. Proper spacing and good drainage can reduce the impact.
  • Phomopsis Blight: This fungal disease primarily affects crops during the rainy season and can be controlled using fungicides.

Control Measures for Fruit Set Issues:

• Flower Types and Fruit Set: Brinjal flowers can be divided into:
  1. True Short Style: No fruit set.
  2. Pseudo Short Style: Poor fruit set (can be improved by growth regulators).
  3. Medium Styled: Normal fruit set (30-40%).
  4. Long Styled: Maximum fruit set (50-60%).

For poor fruit set, growth regulators like NAA (50 ppm) or PCPA (20 ppm) can be sprayed to improve the fruit set.

Harvesting

• Harvest Time: Brinjal should be harvested when the fruits attain a good size, an attractive color, and a glossy appearance. Overripe fruits should be avoided as they reduce market value.
• Yield:
  • Open-pollinated varieties: 300-500 quintals per hectare.
  • Hybrid varieties: 600-800 quintals per hectare.

Physiological Disorders

• Calyx Withering: This occurs during the months of mid-February to mid-April. The affected fruits turn reddish-brown and lose their gloss, affecting marketability. It is caused by a lack of calcium in the soil, especially during the high humidity periods.

Post-Harvest Management

• Storage: Brinjal fruits are perishable and should be stored at a cool temperature of around 10-15°C to maintain freshness for a few days. They can also be marketed immediately after harvesting.

1. Hisar Lalit: Root knot nematode resistant. Yield: 250-300 q/ha. Recommended: All India.
2. Hisar Arun: Early and high yielding. Yield: 275-300 q/ha. Recommended: All India.