Enhancement of Salinity Tolerance in Pomegranate Cuttings (Punica granatum L.) Using Magnetized Water

Abstract

Salt stress is a major constraint limiting the successful propagation and establishment of crop plants, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In crops such as pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa, salinity adversely affects rooting, growth, and physiological processes in cuttings, ultimately reducing survival and productivity. Magnetized water has recently emerged as a promising eco-friendly technique that can alter the physicochemical properties of water, thereby enhancing nutrient uptake and plant growth under stress conditions through improved water absorption, ion balance, and metabolic activity. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate whether magnetized irrigation water can mitigate salinity stress while improving growth and morphological, root, and physiological characteristics of pomegranate cv. Bhagwa. The experiment was conducted using a factorial completely randomized design (FCRD), involving two types of irrigation water and four levels of salinity. Observations were recorded on growth parameters, leaf morphology, root characteristics, and physiological traits such as SPAD chlorophyll index, relative water content (RWC), and electrolyte leakage (EL). The results indicated that magnetized water treatment was more effective than normal water in enhancing vegetative growth, leaf and root development, and physiological performance. The highest values for growth parameters, including number of leaves, number of shoots, cutting height, and leaf area, were recorded under magnetized water treatment combined with the lowest salinity level (W₂S₁). Under magnetized water irrigation, physiological parameters reflected improved stress tolerance, as evidenced by increased SPAD values and RWC, along with reduced electrolyte leakage. In contrast, normal water irrigation at the highest salinity level resulted in the lowest growth and physiological performance throughout the study. Overall, magnetized water treatment reduced the adverse effects of salinity on plant growth through its interaction with irrigation type. The interaction between irrigation type and salinity demonstrated that magnetized water partially alleviates salt stress by improving plant water status, chlorophyll content, and membrane stability.