Effect of Chemo and Botanical Products on Growth and Yield of 'Barakawi' Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Cultivar

Abstract

Cultivation of date palm is the most important economical activity in the Northern State. Sudan. This study was conducted to examine the effect of chemo and botanical products on growth and yield of date palm trees. The experimental sites were Al-Bakheet and Hezema villages, Karima locality, in the Northern State, Sudan. All tests were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replicates. The tested chemicals were: Urea as soil dressing in doses of 0, 50, 100 and 150 (g/palm); K2SO4 as soil dressing in doses of 0, 50, 100 and 150 (g/palm); Micro-nutrients as foliar applications in concentration of 100mg/L for FeSO4.7H2O, ZnSO4.7H2O and MnSO4.H2O. The botanical product tested was Argel leaves powder applied as soil dressing in doses of 0, 50,100 and 150 (g/palm). Treatments were applied in the first season, but their extended effects were also measured in the second season. Data were recorded at harvest time in both seasons and were subjected to analyses of variance and means separation by Duncan's multiple range test. Best results were obtained from the 100g/palm urea treatment and the 100g/palm K2SO4 treatment for both vegetative growth and yield. All micro-nutrients increased yield significantly over the control with relative advantage for Fe followed by Zn and Mn. All Argel treatments increased yield significantly over the control. The highest yield was recorded for the 150g/palm Argel treatment.