Although the North Delta region in Egypt is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, it suffers from a severe shortage of fresh water needed to irrigate crops. So usually farmers resort to the use of low-quality water, such as agricultural drainage water, which could pose a threat to the quality of crops and then human health. Two field experiments were carried out during two consecutive summer seasons of 2014 and 2015 aimed at delivering more information about the pros and cons of alternative irrigation for tomato using fresh and agricultural drainage water with or without applying of magnetic field. The twelve surface irrigations, which tomato needs during its whole growing season, were applied alternatively between fresh and agricultural drainage water, respectively, at the following percentages (100 + 0), (75 + 25), (50 + 50), (25 + 75) and (0 + 100). Magnetic field was applied using iron fillings at a rate of 150 kg ha-1. The results revealed that growth parameters, early, total and relative yield, marketable yield and total chlorophyll and NPK content of leaves were gradually decreased with increasing the irrigation using agricultural drainage water. However, irrigating tomato by 100% fresh water had the highest values, while using of 100% agricultural drainage water displayed the lowest values. Contrarily, vitamin C, total soluble solids (TSS) and fruit firmness where at their highest values when tomato irrigated by 100% of agricultural drainage water. Applying of magnetic field not only enhances the growth, yield and quality of tomato under irrigation using agricultural water but also under fresh water. These results are of importance in areas where the use of agricultural drainage water irrigating crops is inevitable for enhancing yield and its quality and consequently ensuring food safety.
Keywords: Agricultural drainage water; Alternative irrigation; Economic efficiency; Fresh water; Magnetic field; Tomato.
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