Effect of Biostimulators as Foliar Application on Eggplant “Black Beauty Cultivar” Growth, Yield and Chemical Composition in Multi-Stressed Loamy Sand Soil

This study examines the potential of natural biostimulants to mitigate environmental stress and enhance growth, yield, and quality in eggplant (Solanum melongena L., cv. Black Beauty) grown in loamy sand soil. Eggplants were treated with foliar applications of ascorbic acid (AA) at 300 mg/L, chitosan (Ch) at 200 mg/L, and moringa oil (MO) at 1000 mg/L as natural biostimulants. Results indicated significant increases in plant height, branch number, leaf chlorophyll content, fruit count, and total yield per feddan (0.42 ha) with the AA, Ch, and MO treatments compared to untreated controls. Treated plants also displayed enhanced fruit characteristics, including increased weight, diameter, length, and size. Biochemical analyses revealed elevated levels of fruit dry matter, ascorbic acid content, total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. Untreated plants, in contrast, showed significantly lower values across all measured parameters, indicating higher susceptibility to environmental stressors and reduced growth and fruit quality. These findings underscore the effectiveness of AA, Ch, and MO as biostimulants in enhancing eggplant growth, yield, and fruit quality under loamy sand conditions. Furthermore, the use of biostimulants could be extended to other crops, offering a sustainable approach to improving food security and sustainability in agricultural practices.