Cultivation Practice of Arabian Date Palm P. dactylifera in Brief Editor: Md. Nazim Uddin Mondal Former Associate Scientist-Extension Agronomy, International Rice Research Institute, (IRRI) and Deputy Director Agriculture Extension, Bangladesh Email: [email protected]
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Cultivation practice of Arabian Date Palm P. dactylifera
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Cultivation Practice of Arabian
Date Palm P. dactylifera in Brief
Editor:
Md. Nazim Uddin Mondal
Former Associate Scientist-Extension Agronomy,
International Rice Research Institute, (IRRI) and Deputy Director Agriculture Extension, Bangladesh
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Introduction
The date palm Phonex dactylifera is today amajor fruit crop in its original homeland Iraq, aswell as in a number of other countries where ithas been introduced for commercial production.Over millennia, from Mesopotamia, the date palmhas been carried in all directions in an historicalprocess of diaspora that continues today.Bangladesh is a potential country for introductionof the fruit as evidences are available and it hasreligious importance among the people too. Manypeople are interested to cultivate this fruit all overthe world. This presentation is a brief ofcultivation practices for the people with primaryknowledge on date palm production.
ClimateThe date palm grows in subtropicaland arid regions. The optimal growingtemperature is 32°C. Temperaturesbelow 7°C or above 45°C will arrestthe tree’s growth processes. Fruit setwill occur only if the temperature isabove 13°C. A commercial yield ispossible only if there is a long hotperiod of around 32°C. Rains duringharvest season are damaging the yieldof most date varieties.
Soil
Dates grow in various types of soil:light, medium and heavy, but requiregood drainage and air penetrationinto the soil. Date palms are resistantto alkaline soil. Irrigation with salinewater is detrimental to the vegetativegrowth potential and reduces yieldsize and quality. Date palm is tolerantto soil salinity of up to 4dsm-l.
VarietiesAbout 1500 varieties are in existence. InIraq alone there are about 630 varieties,but the main varieties grown there areZahdi, comprising about 43% of the totalyield. Other local varieties in Iraq includeHalawi and Khadrawi. The main varietyin North Africa is Deglet, while inCalifornia it’s Deglet Noor and Zahdi.The Medjoul variety is considered to beof superior quality in both regions andelsewhere. However, selection of varietydepended on the location where the cropwill grow.
Propagation by Seed
Saplings can be propagated by seed, but
this is not practical. Trees from seed will
start producing yields after 6-10 years. In
addition, 50% of the trees will be male
which are non-productive. Propagation by
seed is impractical as both male and
female palms result and are only
distinguishable by farmers at flowering.
Moreover, there will be many variations in
flowering and fruit qualities.
Propagation by seed Cont:
Seed selected from elite cultivars may be
planted in plastic bags in the nursery. During
the monsoon, seedlings should be
transplanted to the field at a spacing of 7-8 m
between rows and 1 m between plants.
Adjacent rows should have alternate sowings.
At sexual maturity, male plants are moved,
maintaining 3-5% males. The best fruiting
females should be selected. This method of
propagation involves a high cost in terms of
time, manpower and money.
Seedling production from date
palm seeds
Germinated seeds
Young plants
Potted plant
Ready seedling Seeds in the seedbed Seedlings in plastic