The effects of nitrogen rates at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg ha-1 on vegetative growth of two African eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon) were conducted during the 2013 cropping season at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (90 31’N, 60 27’E; 232 m above sea level) and the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Technical headquarters, Sheda, Abuja (8°53’ N, 7°03’ E; 213 m above sea level), both in the Southern Guinea Savanna region of Nigeria. Seeds of the two cultivars (FUTMSm1 and FUTMSm2) were sown on nursery beds for five weeks before transplanting. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, using a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement. Plant height, number of leaves per plant and stem girth were the parameters studied. Nitrogen application rates of 20 to 80 kg ha-1 significantly (P < 0.05) increased the values of all the growth parameters (plant height, stem girth and number of leaves/plant) from 6 to 14 weeks after transplanting (WAT) compared to the control.

Keywords : Nitogen, African Eggplant, Growth, NASC, FUTMINNA.