Optimizing brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) health and yield through bio-organic amendments against Fusarium wilt

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different bio-organic treatments, including control (T0), spent mushroom substrate-SMS (T1), vermicompost (T2), poultry manure (T3), biochar (T4), SMS with biochar (T5), SMS with poultry manure (T6), and SMS with vermicompost (T7) on the management of Fusarium wilt of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). Pathogen identification confirmed Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae as the causal agent of wilt through morphological and pathogenicity tests. Growth attributes, yield, and disease incidence were recorded at various growth stages. The lowest disease incidence (5.55%) was observed in T5, followed by T6, while the highest disease incidence (44.4%) was found in the untreated control (T0). The treatment of T5 significantly enhanced plant growth parameters, including plant height, number of leaves, and number of branches, alongside a substantial increase in yield (12.71 tons/ha), which was statistically similar to T6. These bio-organic amendments not only suppressed disease incidence effectively but also improved soil health, enhanced microbial diversity, and promoted vegetative growth and yield. The results indicate that the integration of SMS with Biochar or Poultry Manure is a sustainable and eco-friendly strategy for managing Fusarium wilt in brinjal cultivation, potentially replacing conventional chemical methods for enhanced productivity and soil health.