Effect of Fertilization and Irrigation on Yield and Quality of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Under Northern Sudan Conditions

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during the successive seasons of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 at the Farm of Mr. Zibair Mohammed Seed Ahmed, at Elselaim- Dongola, Northern State, Sudan. The study was conducted on high terrace soil (Arid soils). The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of fertilization and irrigation on yield, yield components and fruit quality of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) "Barakawi" CV under Northern Sudan Conditions in order to improve date production and hence raise the growers' income. Experimental design was randomized complete block with three replications. The treatments included seven levels of compound fertilizer and three levels of irrigation intervals as shown below: Control, (30 kg Organic + 0.25 kg N 15 P 15 K 15%), (60 kg Organic + 0.25 kg N 15 P 15 K 15%), (120 kg Organic + 0.25 kg N 15 P 15 K 15%), (30 kg Organic + 0.50 kg N 15 P 15 K 15%), (60 kg Organic + 0.50 kg N 15 P 15 K 15%), (120 kg Organic + 0.50 kg N 15 P 15 K 15%) and three irrigation intervals (10, 20 and 30 days). In this study investigated: Yield components included fruit weight, pulp weight, pulp/ seed ratio and yield per palm. Fruit physical characteristics included fruit length, fruit diameter and flesh thickness. Seed physical characteristics included seed length, seed diameter and weight of the seed. Bunch characteristics included number of bunches/palm number of fruit/bunch and weight of fruit/bunch. Strands characteristics attribute included number of strand/bunch, number of fruit/strand and length of strand. Growth parameters included stem length stem diameter, number of new growing leaves and number of total growing leaves. Fruit chemical compositions included total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars, fruit moisture contents and acidity. The results showed that there were highly significant differences due to fertilization and irrigation treatments in most growth parameters, yield and yield components and fruit quality. However, there were no significant differences due to irrigation treatments on seed weight and number of fruit per strands in the first season. Presides no significant difference was obtain due to fertilization on seed weight in the second season, may by seed characteristics were control by genes. Moreover, there were no significant differences due to interaction in stem length and number of new growing leaves in the first season, seed diameter in the second season, (may be the seed characteristics under genetic control) and in number of leaves and seed length in both seasons. The results also showed no significance differences on acidity of the fruits due to either fertilization or irrigation or their interaction. According to the study, date palm tree grown in terrace soil needs irrigation every 10 day and an annual fertilization composed 30 kg organic + 0.50 kg N 15 P 15 K 15%), to achieve good growth, high yield and good quality fruit under sandy soil conditions. Nevertheless, the amount of fertilizer and irrigation needed by palm tree depends on soil type, kinds of intercrops grown under, as well as variety and age of the tree.