MORPHOLOGICAL AND AGRO-ECONOMIC STUDIES OF Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni
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Date
2020-10
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NAUNI,UHF
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigations entitled “Morphological and agro-economic studies of Stevia
rebaudiana Bertoni” were carried out in the experimental field as well as in laboratory of the
Department of Forest Products, College of Forestry, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and
Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2019-2020. In the first experiment “Morphological studies of
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni” was found to be perennial shrub, erect, cylindrical stem with several
branches, opposite decussate leaves with ovate to elliptical lanceolate shape, having serrate margin
with trichomes on the leaf surface and adventitious roots. Inflorescence was capitulum with disc
floret surrounded by involucres. The flowers were hermaphrodite, sessile, pentamerous,
actinomorphic and epigynous. In second experiment “The effect of plant spacings and harvesting
schedules in Stevia rebaudiana”, narrow plant spacing S1 (45cm × 30 cm) gave maximum total fresh
leaf yield (73.33 q/ha), total dry leaf yield (30.07 q/ha), total fresh foliage yield (130.53 q/ha), total
dry foliage yield (54.45 q/ha) and B:C ratio (1.22) as compared to other spacings. In third experiment
“Studies on the effect of different organic manures, fertilizers and harvesting schedules in Stevia
rebaudiana”, among different treatments, vermicompost (N content equivalent to RDF) + NPK
(60:45:30 kg/ha) resulted significant effect on growth and yield in two harvests. All the treatments
viz. RDF (60:45:30 kg/ha), FYM (N content equivalent to RDF), Vermicompost (N content
equivalent to RDF), Jeevamrit (N content equivalent to RDF), Panchagavya (N content equivalent to
RDF), FYM (N content equivalent to RDF) + NPK ( 60:45:30 kg/ha) and Vermicompost (N content
equivalent to RDF) + NPK (60:45:30 kg/ha) perform better as compared to control. Highest total
fresh leaf yield (91.67 q/ha), total dry leaf yield (31.77 q/ha), total fresh foliage yield (169.49 q/ha)
and total dry foliage yield (63.55 q/ha) with B:C ratio (1.09) were observed in treatment
combinations vermicompost (N content equivalent to RDF) + NPK (60:45:30 kg/ha) but the highest
B:C ratio (1.11) was observed in integrated nutrient management of FYM (N content equivalent to
RDF) + NPK ( 60:45:30 kg/ha) with economic dry leaf yield (29.65 q/ha).