Effect of organic and chemical fertilizer on soil properties and nutrient concentration in pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)

In order to evaluate the effects of enriched and non-enriched organic and chemical fertilizers on chemical properties of soil and some nutrient concentrations in pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)، a pot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with 11 treatments and 3 replications in 2010. Treatments were included control (without organic or chemical fertilizer)، chemical fertilizer (CF) as the rate of 80 kg urea ha-1، 100 kg ha-1 super phosphate triple and 80 kg potassium sulfate ha-1، compost، pasteurized compost (bagas + perlit)، sheep manure (10 ton ha-1 alone or plus ½ and ¼ CF). Results showed that fertilizer treatments had significant effect on all treatments except leaf potassium. Accordingly، leaf and flower dry weight were maximum in 10 ton ha-1 pasteurized compost and farmyard manures plus ½ and ¼ CF. The highest phosphorous concentration in flower and leaf (0. 46 and 0. 17 percent، respectively) was recorded when 10 ton ha-1 compost plus ¼ CF was applied. Furthermore، maximum Cu concentration in both flower and leaf (32. 60 and 26. 25 mg L-1، respectively) were belonged to either 10 ton ha-1 compost plus ½ CF or 10 ton ha-1 farmyard manure while 10 ton ha-1 farmyard manure plus ½ CF had not significant effect on Mn content in flower and leaf. The highest Zn in leaf of marigold was observed in 10 ton ha-1 compost up to 1. 2 times compared to control.