Pati-pata (Schumannianthus dichotoma) belonging to the Family Marantaceae is one of the important non – timber forest produces in
Bangladesh. It grows naturally in the swampy areas as well as is cultivated in low-lying areas. The stem of this shrub is used for the preparation
of mat, basket, bag and various novelty items (Mohiuddin and Rashid 1988). The plant can be grown using rhizome, branch cutting, rooted
cutting and seedling (Merry et al. 1997, Siddiqi et al. 1998). However, the best performance was obtained from planting rhizomes. It has been
reported that cultivation of pati-pata is more profitable than that of paddy (Mohiuddin and Rashid 1988). Thus fertilizer treatment was given
one year after planting before the monsoon to observe its effect on the profitable enhancement in yield. The treatment combinations of fertilizer doses were as follows :
Tj = NPK each at 270 gm/plot
T, = NPK each at 540 gm/plot
T, = NPK each at 710 gm/plot
T() = No fertilizer (control)
The experiment was laid out in a Randomized CompleteBlockDesign (RCBD) with four replications at Bangladesh Forest Research Institute campus, Chittagong. So, there were 16 plots each with a size of 4.5 m x 2 m. The plots were separated from one another by earthen embankment to prevent movement of water and other material among the plots. Each plot was planted with 180 rhizomes at a spacing of 1 m x 1m. The experimental areas remained inundated for four months in a year. Data were recorded on survival, emergence of shoots, heights of main shoots and their diametersfrom different clumps at every three months interval for 15 months following fertilizer treatment. Leaving the two peripheralrowsin a plot, data were collected only from the remaining interior clumps.