PJB-2025-253
Evaluating Foliar Sulphur and Potassium Applications for Enhanced Growth and Essential Oil Yield in Calendula officinalis
Narmeen Qureshi
Abstract
Nutrients are crucial for high-quality and profitable crop production, with sulfur and potassium being particularly essential for enhancing crop growth and overall quality. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of foliar-applied Sulphur and potassium on calendula's essential oil yield and overall growth. Conducted at MNS-University of Agriculture during the winter of 2022-23. Calendula seeds were planted and transplanted in specified spacing and conditions. The research involved eight treatments in a randomized complete block design with three replications and a control group, totaling 810 plants. Foliar spray of Potassium and Sulphur was applied both separately and in different combinations. It was observed that different treatments significantly affected calendula's vegetative, reproductive, and essential oil-related parameters. The findings revealed enhanced plant growth, flowering, and yield due to fertilizer application, notably increasing essential oil yield from flowers. However, the essential oil yield from leaves did not display significant changes. Physical properties of the essential oil, including density, refractive index, and specific gravity, varied across treatments. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified various components contributing to the essential oil's chemical composition, comprising major, minor, and trace elements. These results offer insights for refining fertilizer application techniques to optimize the quality essential oil production from calendula flowers.
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