Effects of Different Soil Types on the Growth, Phytochemical and Physiochemical Properties of Solanum Aethiopicum

Abimbola Esther BANKOLE 1*, Benedicta Ada OTTAIROEGBU 1,2, Caroline Emosioke UMEBESE 1

1Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA

*Corresponding author’s Email: gbolabim@yahoo.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.02010097


ABSTRACT

Soil properties are critical determinants of crop performance and phytochemical expression, yet their influence on indigenous vegetables such as Solanum aethiopicum (African eggplant) in Nigeria remains underexplored. This study evaluates the effects of five soil types, loamy, sandy, clay, red earth, and garden topsoil (control), on growth parameters and phytochemical composition of S. aethiopicum under greenhouse conditions. Seeds were cultivated for 12 weeks in a randomized design with 3 replicates per soil type in each five soil treatments resulting to 75 planting bags. Growth metrics (plant height, leaf area, shoot/root fresh and dry weight) and soil physiochemical properties (pH, moisture, texture) were assessed, alongside qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses (phenols, flavonoids, saponins, tannins). Results revealed significant variation among soil treatments (ANOVA, p ≤ 0.05). Loamy soil supported superior vegetative growth, with the highest plant height (41.00±3.21cm), mean leaf area (51.82±20.51cm2), and shoot fresh weight (9.05±2.15g). Phytochemical concentrations were also greatest in loamy soil, with phenols, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins significantly exceeding other treatments. Sandy and garden topsoil exhibited the poorest growth and metabolite profiles, while clay and red earth were intermediate. These findings show the role of soil type in optimizing both yield and nutraceutical quality of S. aethiopicum, providing a basis for soil management strategies to enhance food and nutritional security in sub-Saharan Africa.

KEYWORDS

Growth metrics,
phytochemicals,
Soil types
Dextrose Agar,
Solanum aethiopicum.

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