EFFECT OF IRRIGATION WITH MAGNETICALLY TREATED WATER AND PROLIN SPRAYING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF STRAWBERRY GROWN UNDER UNHEATED PLASTIC HOUSE CONDITIONS

Abstract

A Factorial experiment was carried out during the season of 2013/2014 in plastic house at Baquba nursery, Diyala agriculture Directorate, to study the effect of magnetized irrigation water (treated with 1000 gauss from dipolar magnetic) and spraying with proline (0, 80, 160 mgl-1) and their interaction in growth and yield of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) C.V. festival. Data was statistically analyzed according to Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Results showed that magnetized irrigation water caused a significant increase in number of fruits, fruit size, diameter and weight; plant yield, leaf area, chlorophyll content and vitamin C in fruits, and non-significant effect in fruit length, TSS and total acidity compared with untreated water. Proline spraying at concentration of 160 mg l-1 gave a significant increase in fruits number, fruit size and weight, plant yield, fruit length and diameter, vit.C and TSS of fruits. Proline at 80 mg l-1 gave higher leaf area. Proline had no significant effect on fruits total acidity and content of chlorophyll. Interaction between the two studied factors was significantly affected all traits except recipe total acidity of fruits.