Use of magnetized water and compost tea to improve peach productivity under salinity stress of North Sinai Conditions, Egypt

Abstract EN

This study was conducted during two successive seasons (2015 and 2016) at El-Sheikh Zuwayid, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt.

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of electromagnetic device and compost tea with or without some natural growth stimulants on growth and productivity of Sweet Sheikh Zuwayid peach cultivar (Prunus persica L.) under salinity stress.

In this experiment, there was two irrigation water types (i.e., magnetized water (MW), and non-magnetized water (NMW)).

Besides spraying with compost tea (as a natural growth stimulants), as follows: T1: spraying with water + molasses as a control treatment, T2: compost tea + molasses, T3: compost tea + licorice extract + molasses, T4: compost tea + moringa extract + molasses, and T5: compost tea + algae extract + molasses.

Investigated trees sprayed with 1.5 L four times along each season (at full bloom, fruit set, after one month later from fruit set and after two months later from fruit set).

The obtained results revealed that all treatments were very effective in stimulating growth parameters, mineral contents, yield, physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits, water properties and soil properties.

Generally, magnetized water (MW) was better than non-magnetized water (NMW) in all parameters.

In addition, T3 under MW increased shoot length, number of leaves/shoot, leaf area, leaf mineral contents (N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mg), fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit volume, fruit weight, flesh weight, fruit flesh ratio, yield, total soluble solids and total sugar content, and decreased total acidity content.

Furthermore, there was a slight change in water-soluble salts, pH, micronutrients and salts composition when irrigation water conducted to magnetic field.

Generally, it clearly appears that EC, pH, Ca, Mg, K and Na in the soil decreased, when irrigated with