INFLUENCE OF MAGNETIZED SALINE IRRIGATION WATER ON GERMINATION AND MAIZE (Zea mays L.) YIELD

Laboratory and field experiments were conducted in two summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 in the Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University. Laboratory experiments was included two magneto-priming seed treatments (Un-magnetized seeds; U-MS and magnetized seeds; MS) under four levels of salinity stress (320, 1000, 2000 & 3000 ppm) on germination of Maize. Field experiments were included three factors; I) Three salinity irrigation levels (1000, 2000 and 3000 ppm); II) Three magnetized irrigation water treatments (Un-magnetized saline water (Un-MW); Magnetized saline water (MW1) and MW2; magnetic water with magnetic field 0.75 mT and 3.75mT, respectively and III) two magnetized seed treatments (magnetized and un-Magnetized seeds). Laboratory results showed that germinated of magnetized seeds under different previous levels of salinity enhance germination percentage compared to Un-MS under the same levels of salinity stresses with 2.27, 2.32, 2.32 and 2.32% compared to Un-MS under corresponding salinity levels. Similar positive trends were continued in field experiments, where sowing magnetized maize seeds and irrigation with magnetized brackish-water reducing salinity stress, which reflected for improving of maize yield and water productivity compared to sowing un-magnetized seeds under different levels of salinity brackish water. As an average of both seasons, the improvement reached 13.30 and 19.37% in biological and grain yields, respectively under sowing with MS compared to UN-MS. As well as the improvement reached 23.26 and 23.09% in biological and grain yields, respectively under irrigation with magnetized water (Average of MW1 and MW2) over both seasons compared to Un-MW. Generally, sowing magnetized maize seeds and irrigation with magnetized brackish-water alleviation salinity stress and improved yield and water productivity compared to control treatment.