RESPONSE OF PEAR SEEDLINGS TO SOME NON-AND MAGNETIZED SALINE IRRIGATION WATER AND HUMIC ACID AND THEIR EFFECT ON GROWTH, LEAF PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES, LEAF PIGMENTS AND ELEMENTS CONTENTS

Abstract

This study was conducted during two successive seasons of 2018 and 2019 at El Kanater Horticultural Research Station, Qalyoubeia Government Egypt. The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of salinity levels of non-and magnetized irrigation water alone and in combination with humic acid on one-year-old pear seedlings (Pyrus communis) rootstock. Obtained results revealed that, the two higher concentrations of saline water (1500 and 3000 mg/l) resulted in a gradual significant decreased in all vegetative measurements, dry weights of pear seedling organs, both leaf succulence grade, water potential and leaf content of pigments as well as some leaf elements contents of N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Zn and Mn, Whereas an opposite trends were observed with leaf osmotic pressure, proline content and leaf content of Ca, Na and Cl as compared to the control (270 mg/l –fresh water). On the other hand, seedlings treated with either humic acid or magnetized water were exited significantly an increasing values of vegetative parameters, dry weights of different plant organs, leaf pigments and some macro and micro-nutrients beside Na and Cl as well as both leaf succulence grade and water potential as compared to control (non-magnetized water or non-humic acid) in both seasons of study. The obtained data concluded that the use of magnetized water technique with humic acid applications would be efficiently and safe alternative tool to resolve the problem of irrigating with saline water and to enhance pear rootstock seedlings growth grown under similar conditions of this study.