The field experiments were conducted at the experimental farm of the soil salinity and alkalinity laboratory at Alexandria during the growing season of garlic cv. Sids-40. This site lies between latitude 31˚2"N, and longitude 29˚6"E with an elevation of about 2.50 m below sea level. The annual rainfall averaged 200 mm and the relative humidity during daytime is about 67.30% at the experimental site. The mean maximum temperature during August and September ranged between 30.9˚C and 29.6˚C.

The experimental layout used was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Each experimental unit consisted of three rows, 4 m long and 50 cm in width spacing between plants was 10 cm. The experimental site was irrigated, one excess irrigation, by flooding before planting (15 days) to leach salts below the root zone.

Cloves of garlic (Allium sativum (L.) cv. Sids-40) were selected for nearly

*ESP, The exchangeable sodium percent was calculated from sodium adsorption; ratio (SAR), ^¶Data is average of 3 replicates ± standard deviation (SD).

^‡Means of three samples ± SD.

IWC: Irrigation water criteria, EPA, USA [15].

uniform in shape and size, treated with fungicides and hand-planted in the row on September 20^th, 2018.

Proline foliar treatment was applied using an ordinary sprayer with a sharp nozzle. Three levels of proline namely 0, 25, and 50 mM considered as Pro 0, Pro 1, and Pro 2, respectively, were prepared in distilled water containing 0.1% Tween^® 20 as a non-ionic surfactant, as well as control (sprayed with tap water). All foliar treatments were applied three times at 30, 45, 60 days after sowing.

Potassium fertilizer was added in soil during the vegetative growth stage (60 days after cultivation) using potassium sulfate (48% K₂O), whereas potassium levels as, K0 (control or no potassium), K1 (50 kg/fed.), and K2 (100 kg/fed.). Phosphorus fertilizer was applied using calcium superphosphate (15.5% P₂O₅) at a rate of (75 kg/fed.) during soil preparation. Nitrogen fertilizer was added in the form of ammonium nitrate (33.5% N) at a rate of (100 kg N/fed.) in two equally separated doses, one at the time of planting and the other during the vegetative growth stage (75 days after cultivation). All other agricultural practices were performed as recommended for garlic production according to the recommendations of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture.

This experiment included 18 treatments, which included two foliar bio-stimulant treatments (i.e. with and/or without 3% yeast extract), and all combinations between the three levels of potassium fertilizers (0, 50, and 100 kg/fed.) with three foliar spraying of proline levels (0, 25, and 50 mM).

Yeast extract (YE) 3% was prepared from active dry yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) according to the modified method of Francesca et al. [16] by dissolving amount of dry yeast in water followed by adding sugar (as a source of C and N) at a ratio of 1:1 and kept 24 hours in a warm place for activation before application on the plants. Yeast extract is rich in beneficial bioconstituents such as amino acids, peptides, phytohormones, vitamins, carbohydrates, trace elements, and other growth factors….etc., hence making it suitable for foliar application. The nutritional contents of the yeast extract are shown in Table 3.

*Means of three samples ± SD.

The treatments with 3% yeast extract were applied four times, and the first one was 65 days from planting and repeated each 15 days intervals. The plants were sprayed using a small motor sprayer, with uniform coverage until run-off, with a wetting agent Tween^® 20 (0.1%) added to the spraying solution. Treatments without 3% yeast extract, plants were sprayed with fresh water.

The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) according to Gomez and Gomez [20], using CoStat Software Program Version 6.303 [21], and LSD at 0.05 level of significance was used for the comparison between means.

Figure 1 shows the effect of different treatments of proline, K levels, and their interactions without and/or with 3% yeast extract on the studied vegetative growth parameters, i.e. plant height, and number of leaves per plant at 135 days after planting time. The obtained results showed that garlic plant height was significantly increased with increasing proline and K levels without yeast extract (Figure 1(A)) and/or with 3% yeast extract (Figure 1(B)). Data revealed that garlic plants grown under salinity stress and sprayed with 3% yeast extract had better vegetative growth than those unsprayed. Foliar spray with (i.e. 3% yeast extract) had a beneficial effect on plant growth promotion and final crop quality. It was found that yeast extract treatment had the ability to induce significant recovery for the reduction in vegetative growth of garlic plants grown under moderate saline soil.

Plant-based biostimulant (i.e. yeast extract), which is environmentally friendly, nutritious, and convenient to use, has advantages over common plant growth regulators and soil conditioners [24]. The improvement of plants growth in response to the foliar application of active dry yeast may be attributed to its nutritional contents of different nutrients, a relatively larger proportion of amino acids, higher percentage of peptides, phytohormones, higher values of vitamins, carbohydrates, trace elements, and other growth factors (Table 3). Many studies indicated that yeast has stimulatory effects on cell division, elongation, enlargement, chlorophyll formation, protein and nucleic acid synthesis [16] [25]. It was found that the simulative effect of yeast extract treatment can recover the reduction occurred in vegetative growth of leucaena plants which exposed to salinity stress [26].

The interaction effect between proline foliar applications and K treatments had significant effect on different vegetative growth parameters than control treatment without yeast extract (Figure 1(A) & Figure 1(C)) and/or with 3% yeast extract (Figure 1(B) & Figure 1(D)). In this respect, the plants which sprayed with 3% yeast extract, Pro 2 (50 mM), and K2 (100 kg/fed.) resulted in

the highest values of plant height as well as number of leaves per plant at 135 days after planting time.

Scientists reported that treatment of sweet pepper with stress tolerance-inducing compounds alleviates salinity stress oxidative damage by mediating the physio-biochemical activities and antioxidant systems. Further, it was found that the important role of proline, salicylic acid, and yeast extracts in enhancing sweet pepper growth and tolerance to salinity stress via modulation of the physiological parameters and antioxidants machinery. Interestingly, proline proved to be the best treatment [27].

Proline is a compatible organic solute that accumulated in the cytoplasm of the plant cells growing in saline environments [6]. Furthermore, proline has a positive impact on the activity of enzymes and osmotic adjustment under stress conditions, while protecting enzyme against denaturation or inhibition of activity [27] [28]. The exogenous application of proline has been suggested to be an effective approach in improving crop salt tolerance in higher plants [28].

Data in Table 4 show the interaction effect between yeast extract (3%), K and proline treatments on chemical composition and proline content of garlic leaves at 135 days after planting time. It is obvious that all chemical constituents of leaves such asN, P, K, S, Ca and Mg contents as well as proline content of garlic leaves were significantly affected by sprayed plants with both yeast extract, and proline in combination with K nutrition than control treatment. In this respect, the plants which sprayed with yeast extract at 3% yeast extract, Pro 2 (50 mM), and K2 (100 kg/fed.) achieved the highest concentrations of N, P, K, S, Ca and Mg in leaves as well as proline content in garlic leaves at 135 days after planting time.

Means in each column, followed by the same alphabetical letter(s) in common, are not significantly different at p ≤ 0.05.

Among the plant nutrients, K is a very important nutrient for increasing garlic yields and obtaining optimal production levels [29]. Proper application rates and timing are critical for generating a yield, high quality response, and good storage ability of garlic. As crop yields increase, the amount of K required also increases, along with all other nutrients [29] [30]. In recent decades, K was found to provide abiotic stress tolerance in plants. However, the exact mechanisms of these protections are still under investigation [31]. Under salt stress, sufficient level of K helps to maintain ion homeostasis and to regulate the osmotic balance. In addition, K can enhance antioxidant defense in plants and therefore protects them from oxidative stress under various environmental adversities. Furthermore, K provides some cellular signaling alone or in association with other signaling molecules and phytohormones [31].

Scientists reported that the uptake of different nutrients by garlic plant varied significantly due to the different application levels of K. Potassium alone induced maximum uptake of all the elements studied (N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, B, and Na) at K at 200 kg∙ha⁻¹ and the lowest in control K0 treatment [29]. It was found that these essential and beneficial nutrients could protect crop plants against both abiotic and biotic stresses by enhancing the plant resistance power and regulating the mineral nutritional status [32].

Proline accumulation is a common physiological response in many plants in response to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses [33]. It is obvious from data presented in Table 4 that proline had markedly accumulated in garlic leaves; the highest concentration was recorded with 3% yeast extract, Pro 2 (50 mM), and K2 (100 kg/fed.) in comparison to the control plants during growing season. Proline concentration was significantly increased in response to salt-stress conditions. This increment represents an important mechanism to minimize the deleterious impact of salinity stress and enhance plant growth [33]. Indeed, overproduction of proline in plants induces stress tolerance by maintaining cell turgor or osmotic balance; stabilizing membranes, thereby preventing electrolyte leakage; and bringing concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within normal ranges, thus preventing oxidative bursts [34].

Figure 2 & Figure 3 show the effect of different K levels, proline, and their interactions without and/or with 3% yeast extract on garlic yield quality parameters, i.e. average clove weight, number of cloves per bulb, weight of bulb per plant, bulb diameter, total yield, and relative total yield of garlic plants at 180 days after planting time.

The obtained results from Figure 2 showed that all bulb quality parameters i.e. average clove weight, number of cloves per bulb, weight of bulb per plant, and bulb diameter were significantly increased with increasing K levels without yeast extract ((A), (C), (E) & (G)), and/or with 3% yeast ((B), (D), (F) & (H)) at harvesting time. Figure 2 revealed that the interaction between K level, proline, and 3% yeast extract had significant effect on all bulb quality parameters than control, and the interaction between the highest rate of K level (100 kg/fed.), and

sprayed plant with Pro 2 (50 mM), and 3% yeast extract gave the highest values of average clove weight, number of cloves per bulb, weight of bulb per plant, and bulb diameter at harvesting time.

Jiku et al. [29] reported that the maximum total yield and size of garlic bulb were obtained with potassium application at 200 kg∙ha⁻¹. Potassium at 200 kg∙ha⁻¹ produced the highest fresh and dry weights of bulbs and leaves, diameter, moisture content, number of cloves, and yield as compared to the other treatments. It was suggested that the yield of garlic increased with increasing potassium fertilizer, where K application at 200 kg∙ha⁻¹ is suitable for obtaining maximum yield. According to Hasanuzzaman et al. [31], K is responsible not only for higher production but also for the improved quality of the harvest. Thus, K ensures high-value crops and benefits to growers. K is sometimes called the “quality element” for its association with better crop production, which is supported by many scientists.

Figure 3 showed that yield and its components such as total yield/fed., and relative total yield of garlic plants had significantly affected with increasing K levels without yeast extract (Figure 3(A) & Figure 3(C)), and/or with 3% yeast (Figure 3(B) & Figure 3(D)) at harvesting time. It is obvious from current experiment that garlic plants treated with K level at 100 kg/fed., received sufficient level of potash and as a result, their growth was enhanced and ultimately, yield was increased.

A sufficient supply of K can improve the various growth and physiological parameters of plants under normal conditions. Furthermore, K functions as a vital protector against abiotic stresses (e.g. salinity, drought, extreme temperature, toxic metals/metalloids, and high light) [31]. Yadav et al. [35] reported that maximum and significantly higher bulb yield of garlic was obtained with the combined application of 150 kg of nitrogen along with 150 kg of K₂O/ha.

The present study recommends that using foliar spray with yeast extract at 3% and proline at 50 mM combined with K level at 100 kg/fed., for increasing total yield per fed., of garlic plant grown under moderate saline soil.