IMPACT OF PLANTING IN DIFFERENT MONTHS ON GROWTH AND
YIELD OF STEVIA
Among the various factors that influence plant growth and
development, climatic conditions play an important role in the performance of
crops. For successful cultivation of any crop, crop should be exposed to an
optimum climatic conditions during the growing period, so as to get maximum
growth and yield of stevia.
Difference in planting dates would bring about a
variation in growth and yield of stevia. So, selection of suitable time of
planting is necessary to maximize the growth and biomass yield in stevia.
Growth parameters
Dates of planting
did not exhibit significant differences with respect to dry leaf yield.
Irrespective of nitrogen levels, January planting
produced higher dry leaf yield (3.11 t/ha) compared to October planting (2.59
t/ha). The reasons for higher dry leaf yield in case of January planting may be
attributed to higher leaf dry matter accumulation. The leaf dry matter
accumulation was higher in case of January planting (29.61 g/plant) and it was
lower in case of October planting (26.11).
The variation in leaf dry matter may be related to the
variation in number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant and plant
height. The number of leaves per plant was higher in case of January planting
(391.36) compared to October planting (370.33). The plants planted in January
produced higher number of branches per plant as compared in October and
November, which produced minimum number of branches per plant. The plants of
January planting, which experienced congenial long-day conditions with high
temperature and light intensity during vegetative growth resulted in vigorous
growth, which enabled them to produce more branches. October and November
plants experienced unfavouarble climatic conditions (short-days and low
temperature) and as a result had poor growth and in turn had less branches
production.
The variation in number of leaves per plant may be due to
difference in number of branches per plant, it was highest (48.04) in case of
January planting compared to November planting (47.42) and lowest in case of
October planting (46.82). The plant height was higher (54.72 cm) in case of
January planting and it was lower (50.43 cm) in case of October planting. This
increased number of leaves in early planting dates could be directly correlated
to the fact that early planting had increased number of leaf bearing points in
terms of increased number of branches per plant. The crop planted in October
and November produced minimum number of leaves, due to the fact that they did
not experience favourable growing conditions during their grand vegetative
growth period.
The leaf area per plant was highest in plants planted in
January. Leaf area was minimum in plants planted during October and November.
This reduced leaf area in later planting dates might be due to production of
less number of leaves, which could be due to reduction in plant height and
number of branches.
Increased leaf area in the plants of January planting
could be attributed to the production of more number of leaves per plant which
could be directly correlated to the increased plant height and number of
branches.
The higher dry leaf yield and growth parameters in case
of January planting may be due to dense canopy compared to October panting. The
total dry matter production was higher (108.78 g/plant) in case of January
planting compared to October planting (100.96 g/plant).
The higher fresh leaf yield (11.58 t/ha) was obtained in
case of January planting than in October planting (9.73 t/ha). However, there
was non-significant differences in fresh leaf yield between the dates of
planting. The reasons for marginally higher fresh leaf yield with January
planting may be attributed to more number of leaves per plant. This increased
number of leaves in early planting dates could be directly correlated to fact
that early planted plants had increased number of leaf bearing points in terms
of increased number of branches per plant.
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