Effects of Chemical and Biological Fertilizers on Morpho-Physiological Traits of Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)

Aims: Fertilizer management is an important factor for a successful growth of officinal plants and the identity of suitable fertilizers in plants could have the desirable effects on quantitative and qualitative indices. In order to study the effects of biological fertilizers and NPK fertilizer on growth characteristics, chemical composition of marigold.

Methods: This experiment was conducted in 2012 at the research green house of Birjand University, Iran in a completely randomized in factorial design with three replications.

Treatments included biological fertilizers (without biofertilizer, Psedomonas fluorescence 187, P. fluorescence 178, P. Fluorescence 169, P. putida 159, P. Fluorescence 36) with different NPK fertilizer rates (0, 25, 50, 100%).

Results: Results show that by increasing NPK rates up to 100% dose, number of branches, number of flowers, number of leaf, capitulum diameter, capitulum, bracket diameter, phosphorus and potassium content were significantly increased when compared with the zero NPK. The combined treatment of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer significantly increased the flowering stem height, chlorophyll index, nitrogen and flavonoids content. The highest content and the concentration of flavonoids were obtained when plant was treated with P. fluorescence 36 strain.

Conclusion: The results showed that just usage of biological fertilizers or in combination with chemical fertilizers had the positive effects on physiological traits of Calendula officinalis L., and using the biological potential instead of continious usage of chemical fertilizers can improve the stability of agriculture and certify the quality of officinal plants.