Plant Density and Harvesting Number Effect on Some Agronomic Parameters of Stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni L.)

This study was established in order to determine yield and quality parameters of stevia ( Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni L.) harvesting numbers at different plant densities (25x50, 30×50, 35x50, 40 × 50 cm) in 2017-18. The experiment was carried out with 4 replications according to the “split plots trial pattern’’. Results; In 2017, plant height was obtained 82.31 and 57.31 cm, Fresh Herb Weight per Plant was 62.79 and 24.38 g plant ^-1 , Fresh Branch Weight per Plant was 38.17 and 8.71 g plant ^-1 , Number of Branches per Plant was 13.88 and 1.71 pcs/plant, Dry Herb Weight per Plant was 18.79 and 6.96 g plant ^-1 , Dry Branch Weight per Plant was 11, 38 to 2.38 g plant ^-1 , fresh branch yield 219.98 to 46.44 kg/ha, fresh leaf weight per plant 24.09 to 15.59 g plant ^-1 , fresh leaf yield 192.68 to 83.12 kg/ha, dry branch yield 74.85 to 12.68 kg/ha, dry leaf weight per plant 7.17 to 4.42 g plant ^-1 , dry leaf yield 57.34 to 23.56 kg/ha. In 2018, plant height was obtained 86.00 to 67.75 cm, Fresh Herb Weight per Plant 52.24 to 34.44 g plant ^-1 , Fresh Branch Weight per Plant 29.24 to 17.27 g plant ^-1 , Number of Branches per Plant 4.25 to 2.75 pcs/plant, Dry Herb Weight per Plant 20.56 to 13.12 g plant ^-1 , Dry Branch Weight per Plant 10, 57 to 4.11 g plant ^-1 , Fresh Branch yield 233.93 to 92.09 kgha-1, Fresh Leaf weight per plant 28.28 to 15.56 g plant ^-1 , Fresh leaf yield 226.20 to 124.50 kgha-1, Dry Branch yield 84.55 to 21.94 kgha-1, Dry Leaf weight per plant 11.79 to 7.94 g plant ^-1 , Dry leaf yield 94.30 to 47.03 kgha ^-1 . When the averages of plant densities are examined, higher values were obtained from the densest plant density (25 x 50 cm) in almost all parameters, while a few parameters were obtained from a lower plant density. When the first and second harvest mean values were compared, the second harvest data had higher values in all parameters except for Number of Branches per Plant, Fresh Leaf Weight per Plant and Fresh Leaf Yield.