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Abstract : |
The effects of water, light and chemical fertilizer (NPK) on the growth and development of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl) A. Gray were investigated under nursery and field conditions. The number of leaves produced and biomass accumulation by T. diversifolia increased with the age of the plant from 55.0أƒâ€ڑأ‚آ±6.4 at 6 weeks after planting (WAP) to 1352.0أƒâ€ڑأ‚آ±39.8 leaves (14 WAP) and 4.5أƒâ€ڑأ‚آ±0.2 g/plants (6 WAP) to 1259.4أƒâ€ڑأ‚آ±19.1 g/plants (14 WAP), respectively. This trend was maintained under both optimum and stressed conditions of water, light and chemical fertilizer. Light was the next most important factor after water with respect to biomass accumulation of T. diversifolia. With minimum light intensity (500 lux), the biomass accumulation was 85.87plusmn;3.7 g/plants whereas without fertilizer application the biomass accumulation was 301.4أƒâ€ڑأ‚آ±4.4 g/plant., |
