EFFECT OF PLANTING DISTANCES, PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN + FOLIAR FERTILIZAION ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF STEVIA CROP

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Agron. Dept., Fac. Agric., Zagazig Univ., Egypt

Abstract

Two field trials wereconducted inaadministration field atFaqous Distrect, Sharqia Governorate in the two summer seasons of 2018 and 2019. This work was aimed to investigate the effect of planting distances, phosphorus and nitrogen fertilization on growth andproductivity of stevia crop. The treatments consists of two planting distances, 25cm and 50cm between hills; phosphorus fertilization, without and with 15.5kg P2O5/faddan as well as four nitrogen fertilization treatments (15and30kg N /fad. each with and without foliar nutrient application).The results indicate that plant height and number of branches/plant did not significantly differed due to planting distances and phosphorus fertilization. Number of branches/ plant was significantly increased by increasing nitrogen levels up to 30kg/fad. compared with 15kg N/fad.Significant increments were observed by 50cmplanting distance and adding 100 kg super phosphtate at the2ndand 3third cut only by number of leaves/plant in the first season. The results showed significant increments due to planting stevia on 50cm distance and adding 100kg superphosphate by plant fresh weight, leaves fresh and dry weights/plant in the two season and all cuts excpect the first one by leavesfresh weight in the first season. On the other hand, total fresh yield/fad.leaves fresh and dry yields/fad. were significantly higher by planting stevia at 25cm distance and adding 100kg superphosphate/fad.Concerning the effect of adding 30 kg N/fad. and foliar application, there were significant increments in all studied characters of stevia by all cuts in the two seasons except plant height, which the differences did not reach the level of significance.Positive significant interaction effects were detected only by the interaction between planting distance and phosphorus fertilization on plant fresh weight, total fresh yield/fad.Leavesfresh and dry yields/fad, also between planting distance and adding 30kg/fad.nitrogen fertilization onleaves fresh weight, total fresh yield/fad. and leaves fresh and dry yields/fad.

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