BIOLOGICAL FEATURES AND ELEMENTS OF AGROTECHNOLOGY FOR GROWING MARIGOLDS MEDICINAL (CАLENDULA ОFFICINАLIS L.) IN KABARDINO-BALKARIA

The relevant objective of the Russian pharmaceutical industry is to create a reliable raw material base for the production of medicinal plant materials of cultivated medicinal plants, which include marigold (Cаlendula оfficinаlis L.). The yield of C. оfficinаlis inflorescences can vary significantly depending on the soil and climatic conditions of the cultivation region and the selected variety. In this regard, the aim of the study was to study the biological characteristics of the development of calendula plants under the influence of plant growth regulators and foliar feeding during cultivation in the natural and climatic conditions of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The objects of the study were the varieties of C. оfficinаlis Kalta and Paradise Garden. Field experiments were carried out in 2022-2024 in the conditions of the foothill agroclimatic zone of the republic. The conditions for successful adaptation of varieties to the soil and climatic conditions of the region are the treatment of seeds and crops with growth regulators Zircon and Epin-Extra, foliar feeding with microfertilizers Cytovit and Siliplant in combination with the growth regulator Zircon in the rosette and budding phase of plants. Pre-sowing treatment with Zircon and Epin-Extra contributed to an increase in the field germination of seeds of the studied varieties by 3.9-7.3 %, acceleration of the flowering phase by 5-9 days. The highest increase in the yield of inflorescences was noted for the Kalta variety in the Siliplant + Zircon variant (+20.0 %), for the Paradise Garden variety - Cytovit + Zircon (+24.0 %). The share of double inflorescences increased by 9.9 and 3.6 %, respectively, the content of extractive substances - by 4.0 % and 7.4 %, the amount of flavonoids - by 13.8 % and 15.3 %. In terms of the size of the structural elements of the yield of medicinal raw materials (quantity, diameter and share of double inflorescences), the Raisky Sad variety has an advantage, demonstrating higher stability of yield and quality of raw materials in the soil and climatic conditions of Kabardino-Balkaria.