THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND YIELDS OF STEVIA (Stevia Rebaudiana BERTONI) RESPONSES TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF FERTILIZER.

A crop that is nourishing using fertilizer usually gives a better growth performance and yield. Different types of fertilizer giving a different impact on the growth performance and yield of a crop. The presence of different types of fertilizer such as organic, inorganic and semi organic fertilizer boost crops in different rate. As we know that the use of fertilizer seems to be an obligation to the farmer, identifying the best types of fertilizer that can bring the best of the crop should be determined. This experiment was conducted to study the growth performance and yield of Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana BERTONI) responses to different types of fertilizer. The study was carried out at UiTM Jasin share farm by using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) for every treatment. Data collection or the perimeter for plant height, number of leaf and leaf area were recorded once every seven days while the yield of this plant were recorded at the end of the experiment. Data analysis was carried out by using Minitab and Microsoft Excel. At the end of this experiment, Stevia plants were harvested and the yield is being calculated. The results obtained in this study indicate that there are significant different in the number of leaves, area of leaves and the yields harvested toward the application of different fertilizer. It is concluded that the best fertilizer to be applied to Stevia plant is semi organic fertilizer.