Nutrients and biomass variations in Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) under water deficit stress and phosphorus (Chemical and Biological) sources

Biofertilizers included solid, liquid or semi-solid materials that contain one or several microorganism species developing plants root system leads to better uptake of water and nutrients resulting in the further growth of the plant. To evaluate the accumulation of nutrients in leaf and biomass production of pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.), a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Urmia University in 2014. Treatments were irrigation (irrigation at 50% and 80% Fc) and phosphorus sources (control, triple super phosphate, phosphate solubilizer bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi species included Glomus intraradices, G. mosseae and G. hoi). Results showed that in water deficit condition, the leaf phosphorus was significantly reduced in comparison to normal irrigation. Also, there were the significant effect of phosphorus on root colonization, and significant interaction effect of irrigation×phosphorus on biomass yield. The greatest increasing of root colonization was observed in plants treated with G. hoi. Generally, in water deficit condition, decreasing root access to nutrients in this condition led to lower biomass. But leaf protein yield in water deficit stress was greater than normal condition.