Work

Integration of tricho-compost and tricho-leachate with reduced chemical fertilizer to enhance growth, yield and fruit quality of brinjal

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Excessive reliance on chemical fertilizer can undermine soil quality and the sustainability of intensive brinjal production. This study evaluated whether tricho-compost and tricho-leachate could maintain crop performance when the recommended mineral fertilizer dose (RDF) was reduced. A field experiment with BARI Brinjal-4 was conducted at Sylhet Agricultural University in a randomized complete block design with five treatments and three replications: 100% RDF without Trichoderma-based inputs (T1) and 10 t ha −1 Tricho-compost plus 20 mL L −1 Tricho-leachate combined with 100% (T2), 75% (T3), 50% (T4), or 0% (T5) RDF. T2 produced the highest yield (25.76 t ha −1 ) which was 17.5% higher than T1, and also maximized vegetative growth, SPAD value, root length, and biochemical quality while minimizing fruit infestation. Importantly, T3 reduced mineral fertilizer by 25% yet yielded 23.55 t ha −1 , 7.4% more than T1, and increased SPAD value, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and anthocyanin content by 10.9%, 19.7%, 18.5%, 13.0%, and 25.0%, respectively compared to T1, while reducing infested fruits by 26.0%. T4 reduced mineral fertilizer by 50% and maintained a yield statistically comparable to T1 (22.14 versus 21.92 t ha −1 ), although its quality advantages were smaller. These findings support partial, rather than complete, substitution of mineral fertilizer; under the conditions tested, 75% RDF with tricho-compost and tricho-leachate offered the most practical balance between productivity and fertilizer saving. Multi-location and multi-season validation is required before broad recommendation.

Source: Discover Plants.

DOI: 10.1007/s44372-026-00917-1