Basic Science Sector

Citation:

Hussein, M. M., R. A. Sakr, L. A. Badr, and K. M. A. L. Mashat, "Effect of some Fertilizers on Botanical and Chemical Characteristics of Pot Marigold Plant (Calendula Officinalis L", Journal of Horticultural Science & Ornamental Plants, 2011.

Abstract:

The present study was carried out at the Experimental Nursery of the Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt during the two winter successive seasons, of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. This work was designed to investigate the effect of cattle manure (CM) and sheep manure (SM), biofertilizer (Bio, liquid inoculum containing 108 cells/ml of associative diasotrophs) and inorganic fertilizer (N) as single or combined treatments on morphology, yield and chemical composition of pot marigold (Calendula officinalis, L.) plants grown under sandy soil conditions. P and K fertilizers were used as a basal dressing for all the treatments. Results indicated that application of different fertilization treatments had a considerable effect on the different vegetative growth characteristics of Calendula officinalis,L. plants, compared to the unfertilized control. In both seasons, in most cases the highest values for vegetative growth characteristics (plant height, main stem length, length and diameter of median internode of main stem, number of secondary branches, number of leaves and leaf area of median leaf of main stem, diameter and stalk length of capitulum, number of capitula/ plant, number and weight of fruits/capitulum as well as fresh and dry weights of leaves, stems and roots) were determined with plants received 0.5 CM + 0.5 SM + Bio followed by that received 0.5 SM + Bio and 0.5 CM + Bio treatments, respectively. Generally, there was no significant difference between plants received 0.5 CM + 0.5 SM + Bio and that received 0.5 SM + Bio. In both seasons, plants fertilized with 0.5 CM + 0.5 SM + Bio gave the highest chlorophyll a+b, followed by that received 0.5 SM + Bio, 0.5 CM + Bio, 0.5 CM + 0.5 SM treatments in descending order. In both seasons, plants fertilized with 0.5 CM + 0.5 SM + Bio gave the highest carotenoids content (0.0.70 and 0.63 mg/g fresh matter, respectively).In both seasons, the highest total carbohydrates content was determined in leaves + stems and roots of Calendula officinalis, L. plants received 0.5 CM + 0.5 SM + Bio followed by that received 0.5 SM + Bio and 0.5 CM + Bio treatments, respectively. In both seasons, the highest N, P and K% of dry matter in leaves + stems and roots were recorded with plants received 0.5 CM + 0.5 SM + Bio followed by that received 0.5 SM + Bio and 0.5 CM + Bio treatments, respectively.

Notes:

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