Effects of Chicken Manure and Plantain Peel-Based Fertilization on Kalenda Eggplant (Solanum melongena L) Fruit Biochemical Parameters

Our study aims at improving the nutritional quality of eggplant fruits through application of organic fertilization. The study was conducted in Bingerville (located in the south of Côte d'Ivoire and west of Abidjan city), from April to August 2019.

The work consisted in assessing, in a randomized complete block design, the effects of five manures on the biochemical parameters of Kalenda eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) fruits. The manures studied were T1: chicken manure, T2: chicken manure + plantain peel compost, T3: chicken manure + plantain peel potash, T4: plantain peel compost, T0: no fertilizer, T5 (positive control): NPK (10 18 18) + Urea (46% N) + Potassium sulphate (K2SO4).

The results showed that fiber, protein, lipid, sodium and iron contents were not influenced by the different treatments. However, treatments T5 (NPK (10 18 18) + Urea (46% N) + Potassium sulphate (K2SO4)), T4 (plantain peel compost), T3 (chicken manure + plantain peel potash) and T2 (chicken manure + plantain peel compost) induced the highest carbohydrate and energy content of fruits. With respect to phosphorus and potassium, treatments T5 (NPK (10 18 18) + Urea (46% N) + Potassium sulphate (K2SO4)), T4 (plantain peel compost) and T3 (chicken manure + plantain peel potash) had higher phosphorus values than those of other fertilizers T2 (chicken manure + plantain peel compost), T1 (chicken manure) with an average of 27; 26.58 and 25.491 mg per 100 g FM, respectively. Plants grown on the sites fertilized with chemical treatment T5 (NPK (10 18 18) + Urea (46% N) + Potassium sulphate (K2SO4)) produced the fruits richest in potassium with an average equal to 255.16 mg per 100 g FM, followed by treatment T3 (chicken manure + plantain peel potash) (245.5 mg/100g FM). For magnesium and calcium, treatments T3 (chicken manure + plantain peel potash) and T5 (NPK (10 18 18) + Urea (46% N) + Potassium sulphate (K2SO4)) were characterized by the lowest contents, thus reflecting an antagonism between potassium and these minerals.

From this study, it appears that plantain peel applied as an organic fertilizer on eggplant is a source of potassium, phosphorus, carbohydrates and energy for a good nutritional balance of the body.