The Effect of the Number of Magnetic Fields on Irrigation Water and Their Impact on Soil Cultivated with Maize

Abstract

The research was conducted in 2024 to impact of increasing the number of magnetic fields and the type of irrigation water on properties of water and soil cultivated with maize (Zea mays L.) was evaluated. The results showed that increasing the number of magnetic fields significantly affected the physical and chemical properties of water, as magnetization gradually reduced viscosity from 1.0239 mPa·s in the non-magnetized treatment (NM) to 0.9319 mPa·s in the treatment with eight fields (M3). Surface tension decreased from 70.78 to 65.46 mN/m, and density from 1.00214 to 0.99981 g/cm³. Electrical conductivity (ECi) also decreased from 4.0167 to 3.8978 ds/m, while nitrate concentration increased from 29.03 to 30.82 ppm with the increase in fields, indicating enhanced chemical transformations.

In soil, magnetization gradually raised pH from 7.306 in NM to 7.536 in M3, and increased organic matter from 1.198% to 1.363%. It also contributed to reducing salt accumulation, as sodium concentration decreased from 301 to 263 ppm, chloride from 655.9 to 603.2 ppm, and soil electrical conductivity (ECe) from 2.733 to 2.436 ds/m. These results confirm that magnetic treatment is an effective tool for improving water quality and reducing soil salinity, thereby enhancing agricultural soil fertility.