Raising of Water Use Efficiency, Mineral Fertilization and Their Effects on Productivity and Chemical Constituents of Garlic under Micro Drip Irrigation Systems

Author : Mohamed E. Elhagarey, Mansour E. Ramadan and Hanan A.E.A Hashem

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of drip irrigation systems and mineral NPK fertilization on growth, yield and chemical constituents of garlic. This experiment was carried out during two successive seasons 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 in sandy soil at Baloza Research Station, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replicates, keeping drip irrigation system [emitters conventional emitters (surface irrigation 4.0 L h-1, subsurface irrigation 4.0 L h-1) and low flow emitters subsurface irrigation (4.0, 3.0, 2.0 L h-1)] in the main plots and mineral NPK fertilization (100%, 75% and 50% recommended doses) in the sub-plots. The result showed that the highest values of plant growth parameters, i.e., plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf fresh, as well as dry weight and bulb diameter, bulb weight, clove number per bulb, and total yield, were recorded when plants irrigated with conventional emitters surface (4 L h-1) as compared with plants irrigated with others drip irrigation systems. On the other hand, plants irrigated with low flow emitters (2 L h-1) recorded the highest values of all chemical constituents, i.e., vitamin A, vitamin C, total phenolic, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity. All mineral NPK fertilization levels significantly enhanced plant growth parameters, yield and its components. The 100% NPK treatment is the superior in its effect on all the aforementioned characteristics. The best results were recorded when plants were irrigated with conventional emitters surface (4 L h-1) and fertilized with 100% NPK recommended doses of mineral fertilization followed by conventional emitters surface (4 L h-1) and fertilized with 75% NPK. The highest values of WUE is obtained by LEF 2 L h-1 and 100% of doses. But, the best results in chemical constituents were obtained by irrigated with low flow emitters (2 L h-1) and addition of 75% NPK.

Keywords : Garlic, Drip irrigation, Mineral fertilization, Growth, Yield,

Received:11/1/2022 12:00:00 AM; Accepted: 12/20/2022 12:00:00 AM