الفهرس 
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Abstract
Two field experiments were carried out during the two successive growth seasons of 2018 and 2019 under greenhouse of Experimental Farm at Kaha, Vegetable Research Farm (El-Kaluobia Governorate), Horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Egypt. The experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of magnetic and non-magnetic water on seed germination, plant growth and productivity of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.) under saline water conditions at different sowing time intervals (steep, 2, 4 and 6 hours) comparison with tap water at the same intervals time. The cucumber seeds of Hesham cultivar were obtained from Suze Canal Seeds Company. The magnetic device was obtained from Delta Water Company, Alexandria, Egypt. This magnetic device was used to treat saline water or cucumber seeds with a magnetic field.
The treatments were as follows:
1. Dry seeds were irrigated with magnetized well water 6. Dry seeds were irrigated with well water (the control).
2. Seeds were soaked in magnetic well water (Steep). 7. Seeds were soaked in well water (Steep).
3. Seeds were soaked in magnetic well water (2 hours). 8. Seeds were soaked in well water (2 hours).
4. Seeds were soaked in magnetic well water (4 hours). 9. Seeds were soaked in well water (4 hours).
5. Seeds were soaked in magnetic well water (6 hours). 10. Seeds were soaked in well water (6 hours).
This study was carried out in three experiments as follows.
1- First Experiment (Seed Germination Experiment).
This experiment was conducted in the Central administration for seed testing & certification, Agriculture Research Center (ARC) to investigate the effect of magnetic and non-magnetic saline water on seed germination ratio and time required for germination of the Hesham Cucumber cultivar. The seeds were soaked for, steep, 2, 4, and 6 hours in magnetic and non-magnetic saline water (1600 ppm). Untreated seeds were used as a control (not treated by soaking and not irrigated with magnetized water). The seeds were placed in Petri dishes on wet filter paper and located in an incubator at the optimal germination temperature (26°C). The treatment included four dishes, each dish contained 25 seeds. The dishes were divided into two groups, the first group was irrigated with magnetized saline water and the second one was irrigated with un-treated saline water. During the experiment, the germinated seeds were counted daily.
Data were recorded on following characters:
1- Magnetized water caused a significant increase seed germination as compared with non-magnetized of water.
2- The germination percentage was about 91.43 and 80.95 % for cucumber seeds treated with magnetized water at both seasons respectively, compared with 84.50 and 79.76 % for non-magnetized water.
3- Soaking the seeds in magnetized water resulted in in-creased germination percentage and reduced the required time for seed germination compared with non-magnetized water.
4- Soaking periods and interaction between them did not show any significant changes in the speed of seed germination.
2- Second Experiment (Seedling Experiment).
This experiment was carried out at Kaha Research Farm, Horticulture Research Institute to study the effect of magnetized irrigation water on cucumber seedling characters. Cucumber seeds were treated by magnetic and non-magnetic saline water for steep, 2, 4, or 6 hours be-fore planting. Untreated seed used as a control. The seeds were sown in cell trays (84 cell) containing peat moss and vermiculite (1:1 volume basis). Suitable amounts of fertilizers and fungicide were added to exact the acidity of growing mixture. Under greenhouse conditions for a period of 15 days, irrigation was provided when required. The experiment was arranged out in complete randomized design. Treatments were assigned randomly in replications.
Data were recorded on following characters:
1- Magnetized water significantly increased the number of leaves compared to non-magnetized water.
2- The maximum values of leaves number were observed in cucumber seed-lings irrigated with magnetized water and their seeds soaked for 4 hours. While the lowest value of the number of leaves was observed in the untreated plants.
3- The seedlings irrigated with magnetically treated saline water gave the highest value for the seedlings’ length.
4- Magnetized water and soaking seeds for 2 hours gave the highest value of plant length.
5- The highest values of seedlings diameters were recorded in seedlings treated with magnetized water and soaking seeds (steep and soaking for 2).
6- The control treatment which was not treated by soaking and irrigated with magnetized water during the nursery period gave the lowest values of root length.
7- The interaction between the magnetic treatments and the soaking periods improved the root length of all treated seedlings than the control.
8- Water irrigation with magnetized and non-magnetized water at all socking time stimulated reading of chlorophyll compared to control.
9- Seedlings were significantly improved using magnetic water or seed compared to the control.
10- Fresh and dry weights of cucumber seedlings in magnetically-treated water was higher than untreated water at steep and 6 hours of soaking
3- Third Experiments: (fruit production experiment).
The seedlings were transplanted in the greenhouse at 50 cm space between the plants and 100 cm between rows. The greenhouse was divided into two parts, the first part for irrigation treatments with magnetized water and the other for irrigation with salty well water. Device of magnetized water (1.45 Tesla) was installed at the start of the drip irrigation lines the water was pumped through the drip irrigation system.
The following results were recorded:
1- The magnetic water gave a higher value leaves/plant in the two seasons compared to non-magnetic water.
2- All soaked treatments were superior compared to the control treatment (dry seed) without significant differences among them.
3- Higher values of leaf chlorophyll content and leaf area were recorded in plants irrigated with magnetically treated saline water.
4- Flowering of cucumber plants were decreased significantly by using irrigation water and magnetized seeds as compared to the control treatment (untreated seeds and untreated water through the growing season).
5- Fruit length, diameter and weight increased when magnetized saline water were used whereas, the control treatment gave the lowest values.
6- Application of magnetized water significantly increased the yield as compared with untreated water.
7- The maximum values of N, P, K, and Ca content were found in the leaves of cu-cumber plants irrigated with magnetically treated sa-line water while the lowest value was observed in the leaves of untreated cucumber plants (control).
8- The highest values of Na and Cl were noted in the leave of untreated cucumber plants when com-pared with other treatments.
9- The magnetic treatment has a positive effect on the reduction of Na and Cl absorption.
Conclusions
The findings of the present study suggest that the application of magnetically treated saline water on cucumber seeds can be an eco-friendly practice that improves plant characteristics in all stages. The magnetic treatment of seeds and irrigation water had a helpful impact on yield. This technology can be recommended to improve the yield production under poor soil and low water quality. Further experiments are needed to investigate the effectiveness of magnetic fields on the antioxidant systems and relative responsive genes.