Nutrient Content and Quality of Brinjal as Influenced by Zinc and Boron-fortified Briquettes in Lateritic Soils of Konkan

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2021-22 and 2022-23 to study the effect of zinc and boron-fortified briquettes on yield, nutrient content and quality of brinjal. The treatments included three levels of recommended dose of nitrogen viz. 100, 80 and 60% through Konkan Annapurna Briquettes (KAB) with and without fertilization of zinc and boron. The recommended dose of straight fertilizers with and without zinc and boron was also included in the experiment. The results revealed that the highest brinjal yield (31.43 and 31.99 t ha-1) recorded in the treatment received application of 100% nitrogen through KAB fortified with 2 kg boron and 3 kg zinc ha-1, which was 16-18% higher yield than the recommended dose of fertilizer treatment (26.61 and 27.57 t ha-1). Higher nutrient content, i.e., total N (1.26–1.59%), total P (0.31-0.33%), total Zn (75.32–74.82 mg kg-1) and total B (96.66–85.57 mg kg-1), as well as protein content (8.40–9.92%) in brinjal fruit were significantly affected by different fertilizers as well as briquette treatment against control during both years of experimentation. Treatment T7 consisting of 100% nitrogen through KAB fortified with 2 kg boron and 3 kg zinc ha-1 proved most effective in enhancing fruit yield, nutrient content, and quality parameters of brinjal. This treatment gave the best result by increasing the nutritional status of the plant through the beneficial effects of briquettes.