Abstract
Species of the genus Tagetes are some of the most common plants in gardening practice in Bulgaria. One of the key problems in the production of planting material of these species is the slow growth of seedlings in the beginning of their cultivating. The application of foliar fertilizers is one way to solve this problem. This study examines the impact of foliar fertilizer Panamin Agro on growth processes and biometric characteristics of three species of tagetes: T. erecta L.; T. patula L.. and T. signata Bartl. Foliar fertilizer Panamin Agro was used in 3 different concentrations: 0.5%; 1.0% and 1.5%. The treatment started with the formation of the first true leaf in 90% of the cultivated plants and was applied every 14 days three times until the seedlings were taken outdoors and planted in a permanent place. It was found that the growth characteristics of the treated plants exceed substantially those of the untreated control plants. With the highest and thickest stems of plants, the highest number and size of leaves and flowers and accelerated, enhanced and prolonged the period of photosynthesis are three species of tagetes treated with 1.0% PanaminAgro. Treatment with a concentration of 1.5% does not always have a positive effect on the growth characteristics of the treated plants. The effect of leaf treatment with PanaminAgro on the biometric characteristics of the root system is insignificant. We offer the use of PanaminAgro in the nursery practice in the production of planting material of african marigold in a concentration of 1.0%.
Keywords: Tagetes, foliar fertilizer, Panamin Agro, biometrical characteristics.