Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer on growth and seed germination of Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medikus

We investigated how plant height, number of stem and branch, seed production and seed germination of Capsella bursa-pastoris were affected by nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer using a pot fertilizer experiment. Plant growth parameter was determined, and fully ripen seeds were tested for germination. C. bursa-pastoris exhibited great phenotypic variation in plant height, number of stem and branch in relation to N, P and K supply. Seed production per plant was lowest in the control and low P treatment, and highest in NPK treatment. More than 16,000 seeds per plant were produced in treatments where N and P were applied together. A balanced N, P and K supply results in producing a high percentage and fast germinating seeds, while a deficiency of P and K together with a high N supply results in low germination ability and fast germinating of the produced seeds in C. bursa-pastoris.