An experiment was conducted to evaluate influence of different intra row spacing and harvesting frequency on growth and yield of swisschard. The result showed that the interaction effect of intra row spacing and harvesting frequency had a significant effect on the growth and yield of swisschard. The highest plant height (34.133 and 32.067cm) was obtained from swisschard harvested every 14 days combined with intrarow spacings 40 and 35cm respectvilly. Maximum (5.36) number of leaves per plant was noticed from 40cm intra row spacing with 14 days of harvesting frequency, which was on par with that of 35 cm (5.03), intra row spacing with 14 days of harvesting frequency. The highest marketable fresh leaf yield (774.5q/ha) was recorded from 14 days harvesting frequency with 35cm intra row spacing. Swisschard yield increase from 38.91 q/ha to 113.91 q/ha harvesting frequencey from 7days to 14 days. There was two fold increment in total yield due to increasing intra row spacing from 25 cm to 35cm while further invreasing intra row spacing was not increasing yield for swisschard. Generally, 14 days harvesting frequency with 35cm intra row spacing (112.2q/ha) were found to be superior in yield components thus suggested to be used by the growers.
Keywords: swisschard, harvesting frequency, intra row spacing, growth, yield