GROWTH, YIELD AND WATER ECONOMY IN EGG PLANT (SOLANUM-MELONGENA L) ASINFLUENCED BY DRIP IRRIGATION AND BIOFERTILIZERS

Growth parameters, yield attributes, total fruit yield and water-use e fficiency (WUE) increased significantly with irrigation scheduling thr ough drip at 0.8 CPE compared to check basin system. Drip irrigation a t 0.8 CPE resulted in 28.4% saving in water, 12.3% higher total fruit yield and two fold higher WUE over check basin irrigation system. Fert ilizer application of 100 kg N ha(-1) through urea, 1.43 t ha(-1) dry azolla (equivalent to 50 kg N ha(-1)) and inoculation with Azotobacter ABA-1, were found significantly superior to their lower levels in res pect of growth parameters, yield attributes, total fruit yield and WUE of egg plant.