The effect of soil liming, nitrogen and potassium application on the growth, development and physiological parameters of Calendula officinalis L.

Federal Research Center “Karelian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, Institute of Biology, Petrozavodsk, Russia

^* Corresponding author: holoptseva@krc.karelia.ru

Abstract

The effect of soil liming and the addition of different doses of nitrogen and potassium on the growth, development and operation of FAS pot marigold plants (Calendula officinalis L. abrikosovy jam variety was studied. Experimental options: option 1 (control); option 2 (lime 4.6 t/ha); option 3 (lime 4.6 t/ha, N70K140); option 4 (lime 4.6 t/ha, N100K200). The plants were grown at an illumination intensity of PAR 200 mmol/m², with a photoperiod of 12 hours before the flowering stage. The results of the study showed that the application of lime and mineral fertilizers significantly increased the biomass, height, leaf area of plants and the intensity of photosynthesis, accelerated the development of plants compared with the control. At the same time, the greatest influence on plant productivity was exerted by the introduction of lime into the soil, which caused a maximum increase in the intensity of photosynthesis and the water use efficiency (WUE), an increase in the number of inflorescences and their mass. The addition of urea and potassium sulfate caused an additional increase in plant weight and leaf area. There was no significant effect of nitrogen and potassium addition on the chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, transpiration intensity and WUE.