Effect of magnetic saline irrigation water and soil amendments on growth and productivity of Kalamata olive cultivar

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted at Al-Salam International for Development and Agricultural Investment private farm at 64 Kilometer (Cairo- Alexandria Desert Road), Egypt to study the effect of magnetic saline irrigation water (MW) and soil amendments; magnetic iron (MI) and Nile fertile (NF); on vegetative growth, fruit characteristics, nutrients statues in leaves, fruits and some soil properties, besides proline content in the leaves and fruits of Kalamata olive trees under soil salinity of 3430 ppm and water salinity of 3904 ppm during two successive seasons (2016-2017 and 2017-2018), and productivity at three seasons (2016-2017 / 2017-2018 and 2018-2019). The results showed that, MW and MI+NF enhanced vegetative growth significantly (shoot length, leaf density and leaf surface area), number of fruits/shoot, total yield/tree and fruit physical characteristics, as well as macro and micro nutrients content in leaves, fruits and soil during 1st and 2nd seasons. Proline content of leaves and fruits decreased in all treatments received (MW) compared to those of non magnetic saline irrigation (NMW). These results performed that, the soil irrigated with MW and amended with MI and Nile fertile achieved net income of about 36362.5 LE fed-1 (average tow growing seasons 2017 and 2018) for the olive grower in comparison with other treatments. It could be recommended to use MW and fertilization with MI (500 g/tree) +NF (2 kg/tree/year) under 3430 ppm soil salinity of and 3904 ppm water salinity to decrease salinity and enhance vegetative growth, yield characteristics and increase net income of Kalamata olive trees.