Author(s): DUSHYANT, S. MAJI, S. KUMAR, A. K. MAURYA AND K. R. MEENA

Abstract: Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) a perennial herb belonging to family Asteraceae is important for its leaves which are used as non caloric sweetner and also in many therapeutic applications including diabetes. The present investigation was carried out during 2012-13 to study the effect of organic nutrition on growth and yield of stevia cv. Meethi. Vermicompost (V.C) -250g, bone meal (B.M.)- 120g and neem cake (N.C.)- 100g were applied as sole and in combination. The experiment comprised ten treatments [T0:Control; T1: V.C. (100%); T2:N.C. (100%); T3:B.M. (100%); T4:V.C.+N.C. 75:25); T5:V.C.+N.C.(50:50); T6:N.C.+B.M.(75:25); T7:V.C.+B.M.(50:50); T8:V.C.+B.M (75:25); T9:N.C.+B.M.(50:50)] each replicated thrice and followed the randomized block design. The study revealed that organic manures were much more effective for Stevia when they were applied in combination rather than sole application. Under the study, combined application of vermicompost and bone meal at 75:25 ratio showed the maximum height of plant (49.99cm), highest number of suckers per plant (3.52), maximum number of leaves (89.87 plant-1) as well as maximum fresh (26.55g) and dry (7.52g) weight of leaves among the all treatments.

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