and six pre-planting treatments on plant growth, yield and its components and chemical compounds of bulbs. The six pre planting treatments were T1: the control, T2: soaking garlic cloves (SGC) in water for 24 hour, T3: SGC in 5 ppm GA 3 for 24 hour, T4: SGC in water for 24 h and then placing in moist peat-moss for one day, T5: SGC in water for 24 h and then placing in moist peatmoss for two days and T6: SGC in water for 24 h and then placing in moist peat-moss until root initiation (after three days). The results showed that D2 produced markedly the highest values of plant length, number of leaves per plant, nick diameter, bulbing ratio as well as dry weight of leaves, bulb and plant. In addition, such planting date resulted in highest values of total yield at harvest time, bulb diameter, bulb weight and number of cloves per bulb in the yield sample after curing. The last planting date (D4) scored the highest values of total carbohydrates. While, D1 exhibited the highest level of nitrogen and crude protein in dry matter of garlic bulbs. T6 exhibited the highest germination percentage, plant length as well as dry weight of leaves, bulb and plant. Furthermore, such treatment (T6) produced the highest values of total yield, bulb diameter, bulb weight and total carbohydrates in bulb. Also, the highest level of nitrogen and crude protein were more achieved via T5.

A field experiments were conducted at Horticulture Research Station, El-Kanater El-Khiria, Horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Centre, Egypt during 2016 and 2017 seasons to investigate the effect of different irrigation water levels i.e.,100, 75 and 50% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and foliar application with some stimulant substances i.e., proline at 150 mgl -1 , potassium silicate at 2500 mgl -1 and putrescine at 10 mgl -1 as well as mulching treatments i.e., black polyethylene plastic, rice straw and sawdust mulches individually or in combination of treatments on vegetative growth characteristics, some bioconstituents, total yield and its components of taro plant under drip irrigation system and results interpreted. The results showed that that increasing water stress level from 75% to 50% of Etc decreased gradually all studied growth characteristics of taro plant (plant height, leaves number plant -1 , lamina dry weight plant -1 and leaf area (cm 2 ) plant -1 in the two seasons. In addition, increasing irrigation water stress resulted in decreasing of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids) content in taro Original Research ArticleAbd El-Aal et al.; IJPSS, 29(4): 1-23, 2019; Article no.IJPSS.50956 2 leaves. Moreover, the increase in water shortage is regularly increased the proline content and antioxidant enzymes activity i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) in taro leaves compared to the full irrigation level (100% of ETc). Furthermore, different estimated yield characteristics of taro plant i.e., main corm length (cm), main corm diameter (cm), corms number plant -1 , corms fresh weight (kg) plant -1 , main corm fresh weight (g), corms fresh weight (kg) plot -1 , corms fresh yield (ton) fed. -1 and corm dry matter % as well as taro corm bioconstituents of N, P, K, crude protein and starch contents decreased by reducing irrigation water levels. In this respect, water stress level at 50% of ETc recorded the highest reductions in different estimated characteristics compared to 75% of ETc level and unstressed plant (100% of ETc). Regarding, the effect of foliar application with stimulant substances and mulching treatments, proline at 150 mgl -1 followed by potassium silicate at 2500 mgl -1 and putrescine at 10 mgl -1 as well as black polyethylene plastic mulch were the most effective treatments, respectively. As for the effect of interaction, the results showed that all the interactions between irrigation water levels and foliar spray with the stimulant materials as well as mulching treatments increased different estimated traits of taro plant i.e., vegetative growth characteristics, bioconstituents, yield and its components as well as water use efficiency compared to the control. In this respect, foliar spray with proline at 150 mgl -1 was the most superior treatment followed by putrescine at 10 mgl -1 and potassium silicate at 2500 mgl -1 under water stress levels i.e., 75 and 50% of ETc when compared with the untreated plants dur...

No abstract

This experiment was carried out to study the impact of plant density 5, 6, 7 and 8 lines/ ridge (22, 27, 31, 36 plants/m2) and foliar application of Ascophyllum nodosum and Ecklonia maxima extracts at rate of (0, 0.5 and 1 mL/L) and their interaction on plant growth, yield and chemical constituents of green garlic bulbs under new reclaimed soil. The obtained results showed that plant density 5 and 7 lines/ ridge recorded highest values of plant length, bulb diameter, plant fresh weight, nitrogen and crude protein percentage in dry matter of green garlic bulbs. The plant density of 5 lines/ ridge scored the highest values of leaf area, plant dry weight, bulb weight at harvest time and total carbohydrates concentration. In addition, plants cultivated at rate of 8 lines/ ridge gave the highest values of total yield of green garlic and bulbing ratio. The plant densities at rate of 5 and 6 lines/ ridge scored the highest values of bulb diameter and bulb dry matter at harvest time. Foliar application of 1 mL/L A. nodosum extract led to the highest total yield of green garlic, bulb weight at harvest time, bulb diameter, dry matter percentage, nitrogen and crude protein percentage in dry matter of bulbs. On the other hand, plants sprayed with 0.5 mL/L of A. nodosum and E. maxima extracts gave higher total carbohydrates concentration in bulbs than other treatments. Additionally, plants sprayed with 0.5 and 1 mL/L of A. nodosum extract gave higher potassium percentage in bulbs than other foliar application treatments.

The experiments were carried out during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons. Greenhouse experiments carried out at