IMPACT OF PHOSPHORUS NUTRITION AND NUMBER OF CUTTINGS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF ARTICHOKE

Response of growth, yield and active constituents of artichoke was studied under different phosphorus fertilization doses and number of cuttings in the two successive seasons. Plants which were cut once at the end of growing season and fertilized with 200 kg P2O5 fed -1 recorded the highest seed yield. Artichoke plants produced maximum fresh leaves yield when cut three times and fertilized with 150 kg P2O5 fed -1 . Chemical analysis of dried leaves indicated that flavonoids percentage ranged from 0.54-0.63%, while polyphenols percentage ranged from 1.23-1.45%. An adverse relation between flavonoids and polyphenols was observed.