EFFECT OF IRRIGATION LEVEL AND BIO-STIMULANTS ON PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM L) IN CALCAREOUS SOILS

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to improve the productivity of garlic grown on the sandy calcareous soil of Arab El-Awammer Experimental Station, Assiut governorate through using bio-stimulants and the suitable level of irrigation under drip irrigation system. For this purpose two field experiments were conducted during two winter seasons of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 in split plot design with three replicates to detect the production and quality of garlic (Balady variety) as influenced by irrigation level in main plots (100%, 80% and 60% of Reference Evapotranspiration ETo) and bio-stimulants (control, active dry yeast extract 5g/l, potassium humate 4 kg/fed, and both of them) in the sub plots. The obtained results indicated that irrigated garlic plants with 100% of ETo recorded significant increases for plant growth, yield and yield components as compared to irrigation level by 80% and 60% from ETo during both seasons. On the other hand, all bio-stimulants treatments were surpassed the control significantly. Soil application with potassium humate showed the highest values of studied parameters. Regarding to the interaction between the tested factors in the two trial seasons, irrigated garlic plants with 100% of ETo treated with potassium humate recorded the greatest values of all estimated parameters for plant growth, yield and yield components.