Effect of Mycorrhizal Inoculation, Polymer, and Zeolite on Some Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Eggplant (Solanum melongena ) Under Two Irrigation Intervals.

• 1 Ayub Karim Mahmood Hama Amin 2 Mohammed Moustafa Allawi

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Water limitation is a major constraint affecting vegetable crop productivity worldwide. There are several agricultural techniques to mitigate the adverse effects of water deficit and increase crop yields in water-limited environments.  This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of mycorrhizae, superabsorbent polymers, and zeolite on eggplant yield and quality under two irrigation intervals. Treatments consisted of AMF at 0 and 30 g plant⁻¹, polymers at 12 and 24 g plant⁻¹, and zeolite at 0 and 180 g plant⁻¹, applied individually and in combinations. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental field was divided into two blocks based on irrigation intervals of 4 and 8 days. The results showed that the best values of quantity and quality traits were observed in the triple combination of AMF, polymers, and zeolite, followed by the interaction between AMF and zeolite under both irrigation intervals.  These applications significantly improved almost all measured quantity and quality traits compared with the control. Furthermore, resulted in the highest fruit number, fruit size, and total yield, and improved some quality traits under both irrigation intervals. This underscores the importance of combining these treatments to improve eggplant productivity. Also, revealed that there were no significant differences between the two irrigation intervals (4 days and 8 days). These integrated treatments mitigated the adverse effects of the extended 8-day irrigation interval and maintained yields comparable to those achieved under the shorter irrigation interval.

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