Mitigation salinity stress using magnetically treated water and Chlorella spalgae extract on sunflower productivity

In agriculture, the use of magnetic technology in conjunction with Chlorella sp. algae extract is regarded as a novel and unconventional approach that is safe, healthful, ecologically friendly, and has the potential to reduce salt stress and increase crop yield. Laboratory and field experiments using sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.; Var., Sakha-53) were conducted at the Laboratory of Field Crops Research Department, NRC, and Agricultural Experimental Station of Desert Research Centre, Ras-Sidr, South Sinai Governorate; Egypt during the autumn season of 2020/21 and 2021/22. The laboratory experiment included two treatments (un-priming and priming seeds with 1% Chlorella algae extract) while the field Experiment included two factors: I) magnetized brackish water [1) Brackish water (BW), 2) Magnetic-BW1, and 3) Magnetic-BW2; brackish water after magnetization through passing a three-inch permanent static magnetic unit having intensity 0.35 and 0.06T, respectively] and II) Magneto-priming seeds [Un-priming and magneto-priming seeds with 1% Chlorella algae]. The results of the field experiment showed priming sunflower seed with 1% chlorella algae and irrigation with magnetized brackish water (BW1 or BW2) induced positive and significant effects on all studied parameters (plant height (cm), fresh and dry weight (g plant-1), total chlorophyll, leaves contents of N, K, Mg, Ca ins % and Fe, Mn and Zn in ppm at 45 days after sowing, sunflower yield (kg fed-1) and its component at harvest. The results obtained clarify that, the application of magnetically brackish-water technology with a combination of 1% chlorella algae can be applied as an essential way to alleviate salinity stress and improve sunflower productivity.