Producing good-quality eggplant seedlings is essential for a uniform system of cultivation and yield. The seedlings can be grown in organic or mineral substrates, or a mixture of these. This study evaluated the effect of vermiculite and crushed cassava stems, both pure and as a mixture, on eggplant-seedling growth in two types of environment and in two different types of container. A nursery greenhouse and poly-tunnel greenhouses, both with monofilament screening and 50% shading, were used. In each environment polystyrene trays of 72 and 128 cells were tested. These were filled with: 0% vermiculite and 100% cassava stems; 20% vermiculite and 80% cassava stems; 40% vermiculite and 60% cassava stems; 60% vermiculite and 40% cassava stems; 80% vermiculite and 20% cassava stems, and 100% vermiculite and 0% cassava stems. The experimental design was completely randomized into a scheme of subdivided sub-plots (2 environments x 2 containers x 6 substrates) totaling 24 treatments. The monofilament screen is the best environment when using a tray of 72 cells. For trays of 128 cells, the greenhouse provides the best conditions. The best container for eggplant seedlings is the tray of 72 cells. The median mixtures of vermiculite and cassava stems, between 40 and 60%, are the best substrate for the eggplant seedling. The Dickson quality index is a good indicator of the standard of quality of the eggplant seedlings.
Solanum melongena; Vermiculite; Cassava stems
