Effects of Salinity, Nutrients and Spraying with CaCl2 Solution on the Development of Calcium Deficiency in Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium (L.) Hoffm.) and Curled Parsley (Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym. convar. crispum)

The aim of these experiments was to assess how spraying with CaCl₂ solution can reduce calcium deficiency injury in chervil and parsley. One goal was to study the effect of different salinity levels on the incidence of tipburn of chervil. Another goal was to see how increased N and Ca supply affects the development of tipburn and calcium content in chervil and parsley leaves. Plants were grown in NFT channels, sprayed with different CaCl₂ solutions, in nutrient solutions of different electrical conductivity and different Ca, Na, N and Cl concentrations. Spraying with calcium reduced the incidence of calcium deficiency injury on plants. The incidence of tipburn increased due to higher salinity. Symptoms of calcium deficiency increased and calcium content of leaves reduced by diminishing Ca concentrations in nutrient solutions. The incidence of tipburn was reduced by decreasing nitrogen concentration in the nutrient solution.

Key words: chervil, tipburn, parsley, calcium deficiency, spraying, salinity, calcium, nitrogen.