Effects of Continuous Application of a Soil Conditioner on Eggplant Cultivation and Soil Property

Soil conditioners are frequently applied to remedy acidified soils. The silicon-calcium-potassium-magnesium (Si-Ca-K-Mg) fertilizer is a new product in the category. Effects of continuous application of the fertilizer on the quality of the eggplants grown on the soil as well as the properties of the soil were studied. The results showed that the application increased the yield and Vc content of the vegetable, but no significant effect on Ca or Mg with the increased amounts of the fertilization. On the other hand, the application of increasing Si-Ca-K-Mg fertilizer increased the pH, available P, available K, exchangeable Ca and exchangeable Mg in the soil, and peaked when fertilizer 1 500 kg·hm^-2 was used. Meanwhile, the organic matters and alkali soluble N did not differ from those in control. Taking both yield and quality of eggplants as well as cost of fertilization into consideration, an Si-Ca-K-Mg fertilizer application rate ranging from 750 kg·hm^-2 to 1 125 kg·hm^-2 was recommended.