Study on common symptoms of element deficiency and concentration changes of nutrients in compositae plants

Three compositae plants, as Calendula officinalis, Tagetes patula, Tagetes erecta, were cultured in N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S deficient solution. The nutrient deficiency symptoms, biomass and nutrient concentration of plant were studied. The results showed that N deficiency of Calendula officinalis and Tagetes erecta were most visible, while the deficiency of Tagetes patula cultured under K deprived solution was most visible. Compared to CK, N concentration of Calendula officinalis and Tagetes erecta increased when cultured under K deprived solution. Of all the three plants, P concentration increased when plant grown without N or K, and K concentration decreased when P was deficient. K and Mg concentration increased when Ca was deficient. Ca concentration was increased when K was not supplied. K concentration of Calendula officinalis was enhanced when Mg was not supplied. S concentration of three plans was not decreased gradually without S being supplied, and S concentration of Tagetes patula and Tagetes erecta were enhanced when N, P, K and Ca were deficient.