Effect of spacing and npk on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by makoi (Solanum nigrum L.) under hill zone of Karnataka

An investigation was carried out to study the effect of spacing and NPK on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by makoi under hill zone-9 of Karnataka at Horticulture Research Station, Thirthahalli, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot during the year 2013-14. The results revealed that, spacing of 60 x 45 cm and application of NPK fertilizer @ 125:75:75 kg /ha was found beneficial for getting higher growth, fruit yield and uptake of nutrients by makoi. Among different spacing levels, maximum plant height (70.41 cm) was noticed in S1 (60 x 45 cm) and the spacing of 60 x 60 cm (S2) recorded maximum number of branches (14.22) and maximum number of leaves (233.77), higher fresh and dry fruit yield (14.33 and 2.58 t/ha, respectively), N (92.41 kg/ha), P (13.13 kg/ha) and K (43.94 kg/ha) uptake by makoi. Among the different fertilizer levels, application of 125:75:75 kg NPK / ha (F8) recorded maximum plant height (74.27 cm), higher number of branches (15.23), higher number of leaves (269.77), fresh and dry yield (16.03 t and 3.71 t/ha, respectively) and higher uptake of N (132.56 kg/ha), P (15.34 kg/ha) and K (66.85 kg/ha) by makoi compared to other levels and control.