EFFECT OF NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND PLANT-DENSITY ON YIELD AND NUTRIENT-UPTAKE IN LATE-SOWN NIGER (GUIZOTIA-ABYSSINICA)

A field experiment was conducted during the pre winter (rabi) seasons of 1989 and 1990 at Semiligude, to study the effect of nitrogen, phosp horus and plant density on yield and nutrient uptake in niger [Guizoti a abyssinica (L. F.) Cass.]. Application of nitrogen and phosphorus ea ch al 40 kg/ha significantly increased the grain yield by 60 and 39.5% over their respective controls. Plant density at 444,000/ha (22.5 cm x 10 cm) produced maximum seed yield (230 kg/ha). The nitrogen and pho sphorus content as well as their uptake in seed and haulm increased si gnificantly up to application of 40 kg/ha of each nutrient. The plant density did not affect the nutrient contents and their uptake.