Abstract:
This study was conducted in Elghaba region during 2006-
2008 to assess the performance of the dry, semi-dry and soft
date palm cultivars under the conditions of the Northern State.
Four date cultivars grown in Elghaba Agricultural Scheme were
compared. Palms age ranged between 30-34 years. The cultivars
were: Barakawi and Gondaila (dry cvs), Mushrig wad Khateeb
(semi-dry cv) and Madina (soft cv).
For evaluation 15 palms were used from each cultivar and
each 3 palms were considered a replicate. Data was recorded for
some vegetative growth parameters including leaf number and
length, number of pinneae/leaf and length of pinnae, beside
some parameters of yield and yield components including
number and weights of bunches, length and number of
spikes/bunch, number of fruits/spike, fruit and seed weights and
yield/palm.
Data analysis revealed significant differences in measured
parameters between cultivars. Mushrig wad Khateeb excelled
other cultivars in number of leaves/palm, bunch weight and total
yield. The superiority of Mushrig wad Khateeb in yield is
indicative to the suitability of the semi-dry cultivars to the
conditions of the Northern State
