Helium-neon laser pre-treatment optimizes nutrient use efficiency and yield in garlic plant

Abstract

Garlic ( Allium sativum L.) exhibits limited agronomic traits and nutrient use efficiency under conventional cultivation, necessitating innovative non-chemical approaches to enhance productivity. This study evaluated helium-neon (He-Ne) laser and ultraviolet (UV A+B ) radiation as sustainable pre-treatment strategies to optimize garlic growth, yield, and nutrient utilization. Garlic cloves were pre-treated with control (no irradiation), He-Ne laser (1, 5, 30, or 60 minutes), or UV A+B ra6diation (1, 5, 30, or 60 minutes). Results demonstrated that He-Ne laser produced dose-dependent improvements, with 60-minute exposure maximizing plant height (20.5%), shoot fresh weight (48.1%), bulb fresh weight (29.1%), bulb yield (29.0%), and nutrient use efficiency (nitrogen: 146.6%, phosphorus: 85.1%, potassium: 78.4%). In contrast, UVA+B radiation exhibited a biphasic response, with moderate benefits at low doses (1–5 minutes) but progressive decline at extended exposure (30–60 minutes), reducing yield by 10.7% and nutrient use efficiency by 14.9–29.9%. Response Surface Methodology confirmed 60-minute He-Ne laser pre-treatment as the optimal dose, representing a sustainable strategy for enhancing garlic productivity. These findings demonstrate the potential of laser-based technologies for sustainable vegetable production and warrant further investigation into cultivar-specific optimization and field-scale applications for global food security.