EFFECT OF FREQUENCY OF HARVEST PLANT POPULATION AND N.P.K FERTILIZER ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA

The trial aimed at assessing the effect of frequency of harvest, plant population and N.P.K fertilizer of Vernonia amygdalina(Bitter leaf) was conducted at the Teaching and Research farm, University of Abuja, Nigeria. Split plot treatment arrangement fitted into a randomized complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications was used. Plant population used were10,000,stands/ha and 40,000 stands/ha and 4 weeks frequency of harvest. Data collected were Numbers of branches/plants Number of leaves /plants, Height/plant, leaf area index and dry matter/unit.The result of the study showed that the number of branches per plant in the plots that received N.P.K fertilizer was greater than those in the control plots. Leaf area per plant was drastically reduced in the control plots compared with those in plots that were treated with N.P.K 200kg and 400kg/ha were not significant.Frequency of harvest has significant effect on the leaf on the leaf area and dry matter weight of the plants. Stands planted at the spacing 1m(10,000 stands/ha) developed more in all the growth parameters than others one year after establishment.