Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.

,25 (1) : (25-29) 2012

Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels on growth and yield
of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.)*

Y. R. ALADAKATTI, Y. B PALLED, M. B. CHETTI, S. I. HALIKATTI, S. C. ALAGUNDAGI, P. L. PATIL,

V. C. PATIL1 AND A. D. JANAWADE

Department of Agronomy, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad-580005, India

1
Precision Agriculture Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Email: yraladakatti@rediffmail.com

(Received: August, 2011 ; Accepted : March, 2012)

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted in medium black, clayey soil under irrigated conditions to assess the response of
stevia to levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Five cuttings (crops) were taken in a year. Pooled results indicated
that significantly higher dry leaf yield was obtained with nitrogen @ 400 kg ha-1 (11.42 t ha-1 ) and it was on par with 300 kg
ha-1 (10.94 t ha-1 ). Phosphorus @ 200 kg ha-1 recorded significantly highest dry leaf yield (11.14 t ha-1 ) and it was on par with
150 kg ha-1 (10.85 t ha-1). Potassium @ 200 kg ha-1 recorded dry leaf yield of 10.78 t ha-1 and it was comparable with
potassium @100 kg ha-1 (10.46 t ha-1 ). The growth parameters viz., plant height, number of branches plant-1 and number of
leaves plant-1 were significantly higher with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium @ 400 kg ha-1, 200 kg ha-1 and 200 kg ha-1,
respectively which were on par with 300 kg ha-1, 150 kg ha-1 and 100 kg ha-1 respectively. In pooled data nitrogen @ 400 kg
ha-1 (N2) recorded the highest B:C (3.01) which was on par with nitrogen @ N2 i.e., 300 kg ha-1 (2.93), but significantly higher
than N1 i.e., 200 kg ha-1 (2.66). Phosphorous P3 i.e., 200 kg ha-1 resulted in higher B:C (2.96) which was on par with P2 i.e.,
150 kg ha-1 (2.91). Potassium level influenced the B:C non-significantly. Significantly lowest B:C were recorded with
absolute control in pooled data (2.14). Interactions of N, P and K were non-significant. Nutrient level of 300:150:100 kg ha-1
NPK applied in equal splits to five cuttings (Crops) in year has been considered as an economically optimum level of
nutrients for stevia.
Key words: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Stevia, Uptake

undertaken to determine the optimum N, P and K levels for

Introduction
Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.) is a herbaceous
perennial small bush contaning carbohydrate based
compounds in its leaves, which are many times sweeter than
cane sugar and sugarbeet. Dry leaves are the economic part in
stevia plant. Stevia leaves have taste 20-30 times sweeter than
cane sugar but impotantly without any calories. Hence, stevia
is a potential natural source of no calorie sweetner, alternative
to the synthetic sweetening agents like saccharine, aspartame,
asulfam-K that are available in the market to the diet conscious
consumers and diabetics. Cultivation of stevia crop made
significant impact in the countries like Japan, China, Korea,
Mexico, USA, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia,
Canada and Russia (Brandel and Rosa, 1992). Studies
conducted in India so far could suggest only few management
approaches for improving productivity. Since the production
potential of stevia in India is 2-3 t ha-1 of dry leaves as against
1-2 t ha-1 in China, it has definite advantage over China
(Chalapathi et al., 1997 b). Stevia can be cultivated profitably
wherever irrigation facilities are available. In India some
research work was carried out at University of Agricultural
Sciences, Bengaluru in Karnataka and at the Institute of
Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur,
Himachal Pradesh during 1996 and 2003, respectively (Megeji
et al., 2005). There is no adequate information on nutrient
requirement for stevia. The present investigation was
higher dry leaf yield of stevia.
Material and methods
A field experiment was conducted at Water Management
Research Center (WMRC), Belavatagi, (Ta: Navalagund, Dist:
Dharwad) under irrigated conditions during 2004-05 to 2005-06.
It is located in semi-arid tract of Karnataka at 15o 34' N latitude
and 75o 21' E longitude at an altitude of 578 m above mean sea
level. The soil of the experimental site was medium black, clayey
soil (Vertisols) with a depth of more than 1.5 m having high
water holding capacity (78 %) and low infiltration rate
(0.25 cm ha -1) The pH and Ec of the soil was 8.1 and 0.23
dSm -1 respectively, with organic carban of 0.64%, available N,
P2O5 and K2O were 285 kg ha-1, 26 kg ha-1 and 620 kg ha-1
respectively. The initial composite soil samples from both the
sites were collected from 0 to 30 cm soil depth before
commencement of the experiment. The experiment consisted
of 3 levels of nitrogen ( N1 - 200 kg ha -1, N 2 - 300 kg ha -1,
N3 - 400 kg ha--1), 3 levels of phosphorous ( P1 - 100 kg ha-1,
P 2 - 150 kg ha-1, P 3 - 200 kg ha -1), and 2 levels of potassium
( K1 - 100 kg ha-1, K2 - 200 kg ha-1). All nutrients in each treatment
were applied in equal splits for five cuttings (Crops) in a year
including plant crop. The treatments were laid out in randomized
block design with factorial concept in three replications and
one absolute control with out any nutrients as check. Two
months old stevia seedlings were planted with a common spacing

* Part of Ph.D. thesis submitted by the first author to the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad-580005, India
25
Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,25 (1) : 2012

of 30 cm x 30 cm on 24th June, 2004. A common dose of FYM Results and discussion

@10 t ha-1 was applied to all treatments before planting. The
nutrients N, P and K were applied in the form of di-ammonium
phosphate (DAP), urea and muriate of potash (MOP),
respectively. Entire P and K , fertilizers and 50 per cent N
were applied a week after transplanting. Remaining 50 per
cent N was applied in three equal splits at 30, 45 and 60 days
after transplanting (DAT) for plant crop. But for the
subsequent ratoon crops entire P and K nutrients along with
50 per cent N was applied two days after harvest and the
remaining 50 per cent N was top dressed in two equal splits at
30 and 45 days of harvest of previous crop. This was followed
and maintained for each cutting throughout the crop season
during both the years. The plots were irrigated at 1.0 IW/CPE
ratio to a depth of 60 cm in each irrigation. First crop was
harvested at 90 days after planting, whereas the succeeding
crops were harvested at a regular interval of 70 days. The plants
were cut uniformly 10 cm above the ground level and the green
biomass was sun dried for a day, then shade dried for a week.
The dried stevia leaves were stripped off from the stem and
dried separately under sunlight for a day and stored in clean
gunny bags. Totally five cuttings (Crops) per year were taken
and the plots were maintained for two years.
The mean data on plant height, number of branches and
leaves plant-1 are presented in Table 1. The pooled data revealed
that the increase in nitrogen levels from 200 kg ha-1 (N1) to 400
kg ha-1 (N3) increased the plant height, number of branches and
leaves plant-1 progressively. N3 i.e., 400 kg ha-1 recorded
significantly higher plant height (57.00 cm), maximum number
of branches plant-1 (52.5) and maximum number of leaves plant-1
(847.7) in pooled data, closely followed by N2 i.e., 300 kg ha-1
(54.41 cm, 50.16 and 824.5 respectively). The nitrogen level of
200 kg ha-1 (N1) recorded lower plant height (49.58 cm), less
number of branches plant-1 (43.8), and less number of leaves
plant-1 (750.4) at harvest in pooled data. Increase in phosphorus
levels also increased the plant height, number of branches and
leaves plant-1 in pooled data, but phosphorus level P2 (150 kg ha-1)
recorded the plant height, number of branches plant-1, and
number of leaves plant-1 of 53.72 cm, 49.3 and 817 respectively,
which were on par with these parameters recorded with P3 i.e.,
200 kg ha-1 (56.1 cm, 51.1 and 843.4) in pooled data. Levels of
potassium did not influence the plant height, number of branches
plant-1, and leaves plant-1 at harvest significantly. However,
pooled data revealed that potassium level of K2 (200 kg ha-1)
recorded the higher plant height (54.3 cm), more number of
branches and leaves plant-1 ( 49.5 and 816.2 respectively), closely

Table 1. Growth parameters of stevia at harvest as influenced by irrigation schedule and planting geometry
*Treatment Plant height at harvest (cm) Number of branches plant -1 Number of leaves plant -1
2004-05 2005-06 Pooled 2004-05 2005-06 Pooled 2004-05 2005-06 Pooled
Nitrogen levels (N)
N1 (200 kg ha-1) 50.6 48.5 49.6 39.9 47.7 43.8 728.8 772.0 750.4
N2 (300 kg ha-1) 55.2 53.6 54.4 46.5 54.7 50.2 805.0 844.2 824.6
N3 (400 kg ha-1) 57.9 56.0 57.0 48.5 56.5 52.5 825.2 870.1 847.7
S.Em.± 0.91 0.92 0.94 0.53 0.73 0.85 11.95 13.35 12.55
C.D. (P=0.05) 2.63 2.65 2.72 1.54 2.12 2.46 34.35 38.37 36.08
Phosphorous levels (P)
P1 (100 kg ha-1) 51.9 50.4 51.20 41.9 50.2 46.1 740.7 783.5 762.1
P2 (150 kg ha-1) 54.8 52.6 53.7 45.2 53.3 49.3 794.7 839.3 817.0
P3 (200 kg ha-1) 57.0 55.1 56.1 47.8 55.3 51.1 823.4 863.4 843.4
S.Em.± 0.91 0.92 0.94 0.53 0.73 0.85 11.95 13.35 12.55
C.D. (P=0.05) 2.63 2.65 2.72 1.54 2.12 2.46 34.35 38.37 36.08
Potassium levels (K)
K1 (100 kg ha-1) 53.9 52.1 52.9 44.3 52.3 48.1 776.7 820.9 798.8
K2 (200 kg ha-1) 55.3 53.4 54.3 45.7 53.6 49.5 795.9 836.5 816.2
S.Em.± 0.74 0.61 0.64 0.44 0.60 0.54 9.76 10.90 10.25
C.D. (P=0.05) NS NS NS 1.26 NS NS NS NS NS
Absolute control 40.5 36.6 38.6 24.3 21.9 23.1 319.8 307.9 313.8
Control v/s Treatment
S.Em.± 2.26 1.83 1.93 1.28 1.77 1.60 28.62 31.81 29.96
C.D. (P=0.05) 6.49 5.25 5.54 3.69 5.10 4.60 82.10 91.22 85.94
All interactions NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS
2004-05 : average of first five cuttings 2005-06 : average of next consecutive five cuttings Pooled : Average of 1 to 10 cuttings
NS: Non significant
* N, P and K doses applied for five cuttings (Crops) in equal splits

26
Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels on growth and....

followed by K1 i.e., 100 kg ha-1 (52.9 cm, 48.1 and 798.8 respectively
). Absolute control with out any nutrients recorded significantly
lowest plant height (38.6 cm), least number of branches (23.1)
and leaves plant-1 (313.8). All the interaction effects between N,
P and K had no significant influence on the plant height, number
of branches and leaves plant-1 in pooled data (Table 1). Plant
height at harvest was significantly influenced by higher levels
of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which in turn were
responsible for higher number of branches plant-1 and number
of leaves plant-1 resulting into higher leaf yield. The results are
in accordance with the findings of Chalapathi et al. (1999), who
also reported increased plant height and number of branches
plant-1 with nutrient levels of 40:30:45 kg NPK ha-1 in sandy
loam soils at Bangalore. But different potassium levels did not
influence the total dry leaf yield significantly. These growth
parameters might have possibly contributed positively to the
higher leaf yield with higher N, P and K application. Kawatani et
al. (1980) at Japan had also reported the increased number of
branches and leaves plant-1 of stevia with higher nitrogen
nutrition and also reported positive response to higher levels of
potassium application. Increased number of leaves plant-1 with
increased levels of N, P and K fertilizers was also reported by
Buana and Goenadi (1985) in Brazil.
The cumulative fresh biomass yield, fresh leaf yield and
dry leaf yield of stevia recorded during the first year, second
year and pooled is presented in Table 2. These parameters
were significantly influenced by varied levels of nitrogen and
phosphorous but not with potassium levels in pooled data.
Highest fresh biomass yield (91.9 t ha-1), fresh leaf yield (47.45 t ha-1)
and dry leaf yield (11.42 t ha-1) were posible with nitrogen level
of N3 i.e., 400 kg ha-1which was on par with N2 i.e., 300 kg ha-1
and both were superior over N1. Phosphorus level P3 (200 kg ha-1)
recorded the highest fresh biomass (89.87 t ha-1), fresh leaf
yield (46.17 t ha-1) and dry leaf yield (11.14 t ha-1) which were
on par with P 2 i.e., 150 kg ha -1 (86.61 t ha -1, 44. 93 t ha -1,
10.85 t ha -1 respectively), but superior to P1. Higher fresh
biomass, fresh leaf yield and dry leaf yield of stevia with higher
N, P, and K nutrient levels could be attributed to more number
of branches and leaves plant-1 of stevia due to higher plant
height. Different potassium levels did not influence these
parameters of stevia significantly. Significantly lower fresh
biomass (35.04 t ha-1) dry leaf yield of 4.23 t ha-1 was obtained
with the absolute control as against all other treatments applied
with nutrients (Table 2), due to the lowest number of branches
and leaves plant-1. Murayama et al. (1980) in Japan also
experimentally proved that no manuring resulted in lowest
leaf yield of stevia. Increased dry leaf yield was also reported
by Shock (1982a) in Japan with moderate application of
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. He also reported lower
dry leaf yield ( 42.39 q ha-1) with absolute control without
any fertilizer, which was 62 and 63 per cent less as compared
to higher levels of nitrogen and phosphorous. Research

Table 2. Fresh biomass, fresh leaf and dry leaf yield of stevia as influenced by different nutrient levels
*Treatment Fresh biomass yield(t ha-1) Fresh leaf yield (t ha-1) Dry leaf yield (t ha-1)
2004-05 2005-06 Pooled 2004-05 2005-06 Pooled 2004-05 2005-06 Pooled
Nitrogen levels (N)
N1 (200 kg ha-1) 72.59 79.14 75.87 38.29 40.09 39.19 9.24 9.76 9.50
N2 (300 kg ha-1) 84.07 91.61 87.84 43.96 46.86 45.41 10.66 11.22 10.94
N3 (400 kg ha-1) 87.25 96.56 91.90 45.72 49.18 47.45 11.12 11.72 11.42
S.Em.± 1.37 1.09 1.48 0.78 0.83 0.74 0.23 0.18 0.19
C.D.(P=0.05) 3.95 3.13 4.28 2.25 2.40 2.14 0.65 0.53 0.53
Phosphorous levels (P)
P1 (100 kg ha-1) 76.47 81.79 79.13 40.18 41.72 40.95 9.68 10.06 9.87
P2 (150 kg ha-1) 82.04 91.17 86.61 43.19 46.67 44.93 10.52 11.18 10.85
P3 (200 kg ha-1) 85.04 94.35 89.87 44.60 47.73 46.17 10.83 11.46 11.14
S.Em± 1.37 1.09 1.48 0.78 0.83 0.74 0.23 0.18 0.19
C.D.(P=0.05) 3.95 3.13 4.28 2.25 2.40 2.14 0.65 0.53 0.53
Potassium levels (K)
K1 (100 kg ha-1) 80.22 87.48 83.85 42.08 44.70 43.39 10.19 10.73 10.78
K2 (200 kg ha-1) 82.39 90.73 86.56 43.23 46.05 44.64 10.49 11.07 10.46
S.Em.± 1.12 0.89 2.01 0.63 0.59 0.57 0.19 0.13 0.15
C.D.(P=0.05) NS 2.56 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS
Absolute control 36.61 33.48 35.04 17.14 14.86 16.00 4.70 3.76 4.23
Control v/s Treatment
S.Em.± 3.29 2.61 2.76 1.87 1.73 1.67 0.54 0.39 0.44
C.D.(P=0.05) 9.45 7.5 7.92 5.37 4.97 4.79 1.55 1.12 1.27
All interactions NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS
2004-05: average of first five cuttings 2005-06: average of next consecutive five cuttings Pooled : Average of 1 to 10 cuttings
NS: Non significant
* N, P and K doses applied for five cuttings (Crops) in equal splits
27
Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,25 (1) : 2012

conducted at Egypt also showed a significant increase in dry
leaf biomass yields of stevia when nitrogen fertilizer was
increased from 10 to 30 kg N ha-1 wherein the dry leaves yield
increased by 64 per cent compared to lower dose (Allam
et al., 2001). In conformity of these findings growth and yield
of stevia increased significantly with increasing rates of N, P
and K up to 60:30:45 kg ha-1 per crop with the highest dry leaf
yield which was on par with 40:20:30 kg ha-1 per crop in sandy
loam soils at Bangalore (Chalapathi et al., 1999b). Interaction
effects of nutrient levels on dry leaf yield were not significant.
Economics of stevia cultivation as influenced by different
levels of nutrients is presented in Table 3. In pooled data N3 i.e.,
400 kg ha-1 recorded a net returns of ` 7,62,615 ha-1 which was
on par with N2 i.e., 300 kg ha-1 (` 7,20,780 ha-1). Higher
phosphorus level P3 i.e., 200 kg ha-1 recorded the highest net
returns (` 7,37,880 ha-1) which was on par with P2 i.e., 150 kg
ha-1 (` 7,12,680 ha-1). Higher levels of potassium K2 i.e., 200 kg
ha-1 recorded the net returns (` 7,05,905 ha-1) comparable with
K1 i.e., 100 kg ha-1 (` 6,78,015 ha-1) in pooled data. Absolute
control recorded significantly lower net returns of ` 2,59,064 ha-1
as compared to rest of the treatments (Table 3). Barathi (2003) at
Coimbatore reported a total net profit of about ` 1.8 lakhs acre-
1
during first year and ` 4.5 lakhs acre-1 during subsequent years
with a selling rate of ` 200 kg-1 dried leaves of stevia. In Canada,
it was reported that a leaf yield of 2200 kg ha-1 amounts to the
cost of production of $ 8500, with a price of $ 3.85 kg-1 dried
leaves (Colombus, 1997). Megeji et al. ( 2005) at Palampur also
reported a total net returns of ` 3.75 lakhs for four years with an
average annual income of ` 0.93 lakhs ha-1 at a sale price of `
100 kg-1 dried leaves, with a benefit cost ratio of 1.89. In pooled
data nitrogen level of 400 kg ha-1 (N2) recorded the highest B:C
(3.01) which was on par with nitrogen level of N2 i.e., 300 kg ha-1
(2.93), but significantly higher than N1 i.e., 200 kg ha-1 (2.66).
Higher level of phosphorous P3 i.e., 200 kg ha-1 resulted in higher
B:C (2.96) which was on par with P2 i.e., 150 kg ha-1 (2.91).
Potassium level influenced the B:C non-significantly. Significantly
lower B:C was recorded with absolute control in pooled data
(1.44). However, the interaction effects proved to be non-
significant.
Stevia responded significantly up to 300:150:100 kg ha-1 NPK
wherein five cuttings were possible in a year. As all interactions
are non significant, based on the main factors effect and
economics, the combination of N2P2K1 i.e., 300:150:100 kg ha-1
for a total of five crops in a year has been considered as the
economically optimum level of nutrients for stevia in medium
black soil under irrigation.

Table 3. Economics of stevia as influenced by different nutrient levels

*Treatment Gross returns Cost of cultivation Net returns Benefit :Cost
(` ha-1) (` ha-1) (` ha-1)
2004-05 2005-06 Pooled 2004-05 2005-06 Pooled 2004-05 2005-06 Pooled 2004-05 2005-06 Pooled

Nitrogen levels (N)

N1 (200 kg ha-1) 924000 976000 950000 524826 190652 357739 399600 785370 592485 1.76 5.11 2.66
N2 (300 kg ha-1) 1066000 1122000 1094000 540108 206325 373216 526140 915420 720780 1.97 5.42 2.93
N3 (400 kg ha-1) 1112000 1172000 1141704 545736 212438 379087 565790 959440 762615 2.03 5.51 3.01
S.Em.± 22660 16402 18516 2266 1640 1852 20396 14762 16664 0.03 0.04 0.03
C.D.(P=0.05) 65130 47141 53214 6513 4714 5321 58620 42427 47893 0.10 011 0.09
Phosphorous levels (P)
P1 (100 kg ha-1) 968000 1006000 986764 529190 193696 361443 438380 812260 625320 1.82 5.18 2.73
P2 (150 kg ha-1) 1052000 1118000 1084998 538681 205951 372316 513300 912060 712680 1.95 5.41 2.91
P3 (200 kg ha-1) 1083000 1146000 1114165 542799 209767 376283 539860 935900 737880 1.99 5.45 2.96
SEm± 22660 16400 18516 2266 1640 1852 20396 14762 16664 0.03 0.04 0.03
C.D.(P=0.05) 65130 47140 53214 6513 4714 5321 58620 42427 47893 0.10 0.11 0.09
Potassium levels (K)
K1 (100 kg ha-1) 1019000 1073000 1046035 535005 201035 368020 484210 871820 678015 1.90 5.32 2.84
K2 (200 kg ha-1) 1049000 1107000 1077917 538775 205241 372008 510140 901670 705905 1.94 5.37 2.89
S.Em.± 18500 28410 15118 1850 1339 1512 16654 12053 13606 0.03 0.03 0.02
C.D.(P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS
Absolute control 470000 376000 423000 472829 114107 293468 (-) 2829 261893 259064 0.99 3.29 1.44
Control v/s Treatment
S.Em.± 54100 39202 44095 5410 3920 4410 48690 35282 39686 0.08 0.09 0.07
C.D.(P=0.05) 155170 112440 126472 15516 11244 12647 139650 101196 113825 0.23 0.25 0.22
All interactions NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS
2004-05: average of first five cuttings 2005-06: average of next consecutive five cuttings
Pooled : Average of 1 to 10 cuttings Seedling cost: ` 3 per seedling Selling price : ` 100/ kg dry stevia leaf NS : Non significant
* N, P and K doses applied for five cuttings in equal splits

28
Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels on growth and....
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