Effects of conventional and neem bark-based nano-fertilizer on garden egg (Solanum aethiopicum L.) performance

Abstract

Garden egg (Solanum aethiopicum L.), a tropical vegetable crop with nutritional, medicinal, and economic benefits. Addressing its poor growth with conventional fertilizers under depleted soil nutrient conditions often leads to environmental degradation. Therefore, this study determines the optimum neem bark-based nano-fertilizer level for improving plant height and leaf area in two genotypes. Using a 2×6 factorial design, two garden egg varieties (LO1 and LO8) and six fertilizer treatments (control, organic (poultry manure), inorganic (NPK 20:10:10), and nano-fertilizers at 5, 10, 15 mL) were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Plant height and leaf area were analyzed using ANOVA. Varietal differences were non-significant. Fertilizer effects were significant for plant height across all weeks. At 8 WAP, 5 mL produced the tallest plants (18.30 cm) and largest leaf areas (249.75 cm²), while poultry manure had 11.86 cm and 227.76 cm², respectively. The 5 mL nano-fertilizer applications maximize vegetative growth in LO1; LO8 showed higher height at 10 mL and leaf area at 15 mL. Interaction effects revealed LO1 + 5 mL maximized height (19.77 cm) and leaf area (294.64 cm²) at 8 WAP, indicating synergy. The study concluded that the application of 5 mL nano-fertilizers optimizes garden egg performance.