Field experiments were conducted during the growing seasons of 2012 and 2013 at the experimental farm of National Horticultural Research Institute Mbato out-Station Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria to evaluate the effect of different organic amendments on some soil chemical properties and performance of five garden egg varieties. The treatments were five garden egg varieties (Solanum gilo, Solanum aethiopicum, Solanum macrocarpon, Solanum Ex-Lantan and Solanum melongena) and three organic amendments (cattle dung, poultry manure, pig waste) with a control (no manure). The experiment was a split-plot fitted in randomized complete block design replicated four times. Data were collected at 4, 6 and 8 weeks after transplanting (WAT) on plant height (cm), plant girth (cm), number of leaves, number of branches and leaf area. Data on fruit weight/plot, numbers of fruits, fruit diameter (cm), fruit length (cm), length of peduncle as well as dry matter yield were also collected. Also, soil samples collected from each plot before and after the experiments were analyzed. The results revealed that the effect of different soil amendments and garden egg varieties showed significant interaction on some soil chemical properties, growth and yield performance of garden egg. Poultry manure application favoured nitrogen (N) and soil reaction (pH) in plots with S. gilo, S. Ex-Lantan and S. macrocarpon while in plots that received cattle dung, N and organic carbon (OC) was high in plots with S. aethiopicum and S. melongena. In plots treated with poultry manure, number of leaves, number of branches and plant height at 4, 6 and 8 WAT was highest in S. gilo, S. aethiopicum, S. macrocarpon and S. Ex-lantan plots. Cattle dung application increased fruit girth in S. gilo, S. aethiopicum and S. macrocarpon plots while fruit weight and fruit length was favoured by pig waste in S. gilo and S. aethiopicum plots. S. gilo and S. aethiopicum showed increases in number of leaves, number of fruits, fruit weight as well as quick maturity. They are therefore recommended for production in Okigwe zone, South Eastern Nigeria.

Keywords: Garden egg varieties, amendments, growth and yield performance, soil chemical properties