EFFECT OF BRANCH PRUNING WITH REMOVAL OF OLD LEAF ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF BRINJAL UNDER THREE WINTER VARIETIES

The experiment was conducted in the Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The experiment consisted of two factors. Factor A: Branch pruning and old leaf removal as P0= Control, P1= Old leaf removal, P2= Lateral branch pruning, P3= Old leaf removal and lateral branch pruning and Factor B: 3 varieties of brinjal as V1= BARI Begun-4, V2= BARI Begun-7, V3= BARI Begun-10. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. For pruning, the highest number of flower (38.87), the maximum number of fruit per plant (27.83) and the highest yield (49.73 t/ha) were recorded from P3 treatment, while the minimum were from P0 treatment. In case of variety, the maximum number of flower (41.23), the highest number of fruit harvested per plant (29.23) and the highest yield (52.83 t/ha) were found from V1 treatment, whereas the lowest from V2 treatment. Due to combined effect, the maximum number of flower (49.20), the maximum number of fruit harvested per plant (33.64), the highest yield (55.70 t/ha) were recorded from P3V1. So, it can be concluded that ‘BARI Begun-4’ with lateral branch pruning and old leaf removal gave the maximum yield. The highest gross return (1002600), highest net return (679649) and highest benefit cost ratio (3.1) were obtained from P3V1 (Old leaf removal and lateral branch pruning) treatment combination. So, the economic analysis revealed that the P3V1 treatment combination appeared to be the best for achieving the higher growth, yield and economic benefit of brinjal.