EFFECT OF WATER QUANTITY AND FOLIAR SPRAY WITH SOME SAFELY SUBSTANCES ON GROWTH, YIELD QUALITY AND STORABILITY OF GARLIC 1- GROWTH, YIELD, WATER RELATIONS AND LEAF PIGMENTS

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out during two successive winter seasons of 2015-2016 and
2016-2017 at the Experimental Farm, El Kassasein Horticultural Research Station, Ismailia Governorate, to
clarify the effects of different rates of irrigation water; i.e., 1300, 1950 and 2600 m3
/ fed. and foliar spray with
some safely substances; i.e., potassium chloride, algae extract, potassium humate and calcium carbonate in
addition to control treatment on growth, bulb quality, yield, water relations as well as leaf pigments and proline
amino acid content of garlic plants (Allium sativum L.) cv. Chinese, grown under sandy soil conditions using
drip irrigation system. Irrigation water quantity at 2600 or 1950 m3
/ fed. were the superior treatments which
significantly increased vegetative growth characters, bulb physical characters, total water, free water, water
utilization and total yield without significant differences between them in most cases. Meanwhile, chlorophylls,
bound water, water economy and proline amino acid content were at their maximum values under water stress
(1300 m3
/ fed.). Aqueous solution of calcium carbonate at 6% and/ or potassium humate at 0.2% as foliar spray
had significant effect, in most cases, on plant growth, bulb physical characters, free water, water economy and
total yield without significant differences between them. The interaction between calcium carbonate at 6% and/
or potassium humate at 0.2% and irrigation water quantity at 1950 m3
/ fed. enhanced plant growth, bulb
physical characters, total water, free water, water economy and total yield.