The Study on Calendula officinalis L. In Mediterranean Climatic Conditions: Impact of Different Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization Levels on Morphological, Yield and Physiological Characteristics

Year 2025, Volume: 30 Issue: 1, 192 - 205, 23.06.2025

Gülsüm Boztaş , Emine Bayram

https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1575836

Abstract

Pot marigold, Calendula officinalis L., a plant widely utilized in
cosmetics, medicine, and pharmacy due to its rich bioactive
compounds, was the subject of this study. The research aimed to
investigate the effects of varying nitrogen (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg
ha⁻¹ N) and phosphorus (0, 50, and 100 kg ha⁻¹ P₂O₅) fertilizer
doses on the morphological, physiological, and yield-related
characteristics of C. officinalis cultivated under Mediterranean
climatic conditions. Field experiments were conducted during the
2019-2020 and 2020-2021 growing seasons in İzmir Province,
western Türkiye, using a randomized complete block design with
factorial arrangements and three replications. Morphological
traits, seed and flower yields, and nutrient use efficiencies were
assessed.
The results revealed that nitrogen and phosphorus doses, year,
and their interactions significantly influenced plant growth, yield
performance, and nutrient use efficiency. The highest agronomic
nitrogen use efficiency based on seed yield (35.7 kg/kg N ha-1
)
and flower yield (49.3 kg/kg N ha-1
) was recorded at 0-50 kg ha⁻¹
N in 2020. Similarly, phosphorus use efficiency peaked at 34.5
kg/kg P ha-1 under the same conditions but declined sharply in
the following year due to reduced and irregular rainfall.
These findings underscore the critical influence of soil moisture
on nutrient uptake and utilization. Moderate fertilizer inputs (50
kg ha⁻¹ N and 50 kg ha⁻¹ P₂O₅) provided a favourable balance
between yield and nutrient efficiency. Fertilization strategies for
Calendula officinalis should be based on integrated evaluations
of both yield performance and nutrient use efficiency to ensure
sustainable cultivation under Mediterranean agroecological
conditions.

Keywords

Calendula officinalis , Fertilization , Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) , Phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) , Pot marigold , Yield

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