The influence of foliar fertilization on yielding and quality of mountain arnica (Arnica montana L.) and chamisso arnica (Arnica chamissonis var. foliosa)

Abstract

Studies were carried out in 2004–2007 on two-, three-, and four-year-old plantations of mountain and chamisso arnicas on podzolic soils of strong loamy sand granulometric composition. The experiment aimed at evaluating the foliar fertilization with Alkalin PK 5:25 and Ekolist S influence on selected morphological traits, yielding, and quality of Arnicae anthodium raw material. Fertilizers were applied twice: at the stage of leaf crown and budding. Foliar fertilization of chamisso arnica significantly affected the plant height, the number of produced stems and inflorescences as well as raw material yields in all studied years. Mountain arnica reacted in a similar way; however, statistically significant differences were found only in the second year of cultivation. Foliar fertilizers only slightly modified the quercetine content in inflorescences of the studied arnica species.