FERTILIZATION OF DATE PALM TREE

(Phoenix dactvlifera) IN IRAQ

Ahmad A. H. AL-Rawi1
ABSTRACT

Date palm tree requires relatively great amounts of macro and micro nutrients
to achieve good growth and to give reasonable and economical production.
Fertilization is therefore, one of the important practices which increase dates
production and improve fruits quality. The amount of fertilizer needed by palm
tree depends on soil type, kinds of intercrops grown under, as well as variety and
age of the tree.
This article discusses the fertilization practices being followed in Iraq and
outlines the importance of the use of chemical fertilizers in improving dates
production.
From that review it. is obvious that fertilization of date palm tree in Iraq
depends wholly on local indige1?-0us and individual experiences, rather than sound
scientific basis. There is a need for better understanding of the date palm
physiology, concerning water and. nutrients uptake to comeout with better
fertilization program for that important tree in the region.

Regional cooperation between scientists and institutions is vital to achieve

that goal.
Additional Index Words: Nutrients requirement, chemical fertilizers, farm
manure, tidal irrigation.
INTRODUCTION

Iraq may be considered the date palm country. Apart from the northern part.
of the country, date palm trees grow every where. Its growth extends between 35°,
18 latitude which passes through Tickret on Tigris and Ana on Euphrates, down to
the Fauo on the Arabian gulf, 30° latitude. It is estimated that the number of palm
trees in Iraq exceeds 22 millions tree which covers an area over 120000 hectares.
(AI-Dejaili and AI-Dejaili, 1989). Date palm tree concentrated in Basra
Governorate, recent statistic which is considered the largest date palm forest in the
world. It is estimated that the number of date palm trees in this Governorate

1 IPA Agric. Res. Center P. O. Box 39094 Baghdad, Iraq.

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exceeds 13 millions with over 400 varieties and cover an area over 50.000
hectares. (AI-Dejaili and AI-Dejaili 1989).

Date fruits constitute a substantial part of the diet of the Iraqi people
through the ages, especially for those of low income group. Dates fruits contain
substantial amounts of sugars, minerals and vitamins (Tables 1&2). Considering
the daily requirements of macro elements by human reported by Robinson, 1972,
15 dates fruits would provide more than 80% of daily body requirement of
magnesium, 70% of sulfur, 25% of potassium" 20% of calcium, and a substantial
amount of the body requirements from iron, manganese, copper mid zinc.
(Underwood, 1977).

Table 1: Chemical Composition of Four Commercial Iraqi Date Cultivators*

Composition Hallawi Sayer Khadrawi Zahdi Mean
Moisture % (FW) 7.3 7.5 9.5 8.3 8.1
Total Soluble Solids FW 84.2 81.3 80.8 82.1 82.1
Total Insoluble Solids FW 17.9 10.0 9.5 9.2 11.7
Protein % (DWB) 2.3 2.8 2.4 2.2 2.4
Fat % DWB 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.4
Ash % DWB 1.9 1.8 2.1 1.8 1.9
Crude Fiber DWB 1.8 1.7 2.3 2.5 2.1
Sugar on dry weight basis
Total Sugar % 87.9 86.1 87.7 86.8 87.1
Reducing Sugar % 82.7 82.6 81.9 73.4 80.2
Sucrose % 4.8 3.5 4.5 12.7 6.4
Glucose % 43.7 44.8 44.7 32.8
Fructose % 37.2 38.0 38.5 39.2 41.5
Vitamins (mcg/l00g) dry weight basis
Thiamine (BI) 99.0 130.0 94.0 80.0 100.8
Riboflavin (B2) t73.0 135.0 149.0 167.0 156.0
Biotin (H) 4.6 4.7 4.1 5.7 4.8
Folic acid 57.0 70.0 43.0 63.0 58.2
Ascorbic acid @ 3.6 17.5 3.2 2.4 6.7
(fig! 1OOg)
* After Yousif, et. AI. 1982. ** Fresh Weight *** Dry Weight Basis

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Table 2: Macro and Micro Elements in Four Iraqi Date Cultivators* mg/Kg. Dry
Basis.

Element Hillwai Sayer Khedrawi Zahdi Mean I

P 160 130 150 140 145.0
K 8540 8330 8940 8870 8670.0
S 100 200 140 210 162.5
Ca 1840 2030 1330 2070 13,57.5
Mg 560 580 600 590 582.5
Cl 2600 3120 2660 3420 2950.0
Fe 52.6 32.1 45.0 103.7 58.4
Mn 58.6 ' 52.5 51.4 51.6 53.5
Cu 27.7 28.9 25.4 27.5 27.4
Zn 13.9 18.2 12.9 7.4 13.1
Co 7.6 9.6 9.6 9.5 9.1
F 2.0 1.2 1.4 1.2 1.5

*After Yousif, et. al. 1982.

Palm tree is a sacred tree which play an important role in the life of Iraqi and
Arabs throughout the history. People not only benefited from dates fruits, but they
benefited from all parts of that tree, including trunk, rachis, leaves, rachis base and
fiber sheath as well as pits for animal nutrition.

In the last 20 years, this important tree however, did not receive attention by
farmers as far as agricultural practices which resulted in low production and thus
low income for farmers (Table 3). This leads to the abandon of this important tree
for economical reasons. In this review, I will give a brief on the date palm tree
nutrient requirement and fertilization practices being followed in Iraq.
Table 3: Date Palm Production and Number of Trees in The Main Date Producing
Countries*
Mean
No. of Treesx Dates production Tons (mean 1994 Production
Country
(1000) to 91,92,93) Kg/tree
Iraq, 21500 542333 35000 20-25
UAE 20800 292300 236000 29
Saudi Arabia 12000 551666 555000 60-70
Egypt 11000 612766 500000 30-50
Oman 8050 123100 172000 25-30
Libya 7000 76000 180000 20-25
Algiers 7500 243666 172000

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Palm Tree Nutrients Requirement and Fertilization:

Until recently, there was a false believe between fanners that date palm tree does
not need fertilizer addition. This belief may come out because palm tree has a big
root system which may extends to 10m from trunk and 3-7m deep or to the water
table level. This huge root system makes palm tree resistant to unfavorable
conditions. More over, before dams construction upstream, million tons of
sediments are brought up by rivers and precipitated in the plains where palm trees
are grown adding great amounts of mineral nutrients to the soil yearly. In the
middle palls of Iraq, this root system enables the date palm tree to make use of the
fertilizers being added to citrus trees as well as vegetables and forage. crops grown
under. However, experiments carried out in the country and elsewhere, showed
that fertilizer addition is necessary to improve date palm growth and to increase
date fruits production. AL-Baker, 1972,reported that a five years experiment in
AL-Tanooma, near Basra, showed that the addition of 1.2Kg of nitrogen, 600g of
PzOs and 1.2Kg of KzO per one palm tree increased the yield 2-3 times and
doubled the number of leaves per tree. AL-Dejaili and AL-Dejaili, 1989, outlined
that date palm trees are sensitive to fertilizer addition especially, to nitrogen
fertilizer, and that the nitrogen deficiency in palm trees caused leaves yellowing,
low number of leaves and small leaves as well as low fruit production.
EI-Shurafa, 1984, reported that the amount of nutrients lost yearly by one
palm tree var. Taboni (Lebia), through dates fruits and leaf pruning is 472.
47, 422. 219, 36. 5.8, 1.2. and 1.3g for N, P, K. Ca. Na, Fe, Mn, and Zn
respectively. This estimate assume a total fresh weight of 100KG of dates from 10
date bunches and 20 leaves which give a total dry matter of 82.4 Kg. These loses
of nutrients does not include nutrient losses by leaching or volatilization or other
loses. Ifwe assume that the fertilizer-use efficiency to be 30%, then the amount of
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium needed by one tree would be 1.416, 0.141 and
1.266 Kg. respectively. AI-Dejaili and AI-Dejaili, 1989, reported that the average
amount of nitrogen needed by palm tree is ranged from 1.8 - 2.7 Kg. yearly. They
added that this amount of nitrogen should be added at three doses during the year
(Furr, et. al. 1951), showed that the addition of2.7 to 3.6 Kg of nitrogen to date
palm tree var. DeglatNoor resulted in 20% increase in dates production as
compared with unfertilized trees through four years experiment. The trunk growth
as well as leaves number were increased also, while the quality of fruits did not
change or even lowered. He showed that fertilization caused an increase in the
number of bunches per tree and number of fruits per bunch but not fruit weight.
It is obvious that although little knowledge are available concerning the
amount of fertilizers which should be added to date palm tree, fertilization is
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necessary to improve the growth and production of the tree. The amount of
fertilizers needed by one tree vary with soil type and depth, as well as dates variety
and age of the tree.

In Iraq, farmers are usually following methods used by their ancestors in the
fertilization of palm trees. These practices differ from place to place as outlined
below:

Fertilization Practices in the Basra Area

In this area palm trees are planted in small distances of 5-6m apart. The soil is
heavy soil and the water table is not deep. Irrigation is carried out by tidal stream
or what called fingers irrigation. During the last 20 years, salinity is become a
problem in this area. Under such conditions, palm trees depend wholly on lateral
roots for the absorption of water and nutrients. Fertilization practices followed by
farmers in this area is to use farm manure once event 4-5 years. A circular ditch
around the tree of 3-4m diameter is made. The ditch is very shallow near the trunk
and become deeper until the water table in the outside of the ditch. Manure is then
spread in the ditch 0.5-1.5in3of manure per tree is used. The process is carried out
in Autumn or Winter and the soil then is part back. Chemical fertilizers are rarely
used in this area. When other crops are grown especially in orchards where date
palm trees were planted at 8-1Omdistances, chemical fertilizer especially urea-N is
used. In this area, because of the method of irrigation, nitrogen fertilizer is the
main fertilizer need to be added at different intervals throughout the year, as other
nutrients would be provided from Irrigation water. Scientific experiments on the
use of chemical fertilizers for date palm tree need to be carried for many years in
this area before a conclusive recommendations'can be obtained.

Fertilization Practices in the middle Part of the Country:

In this large area which include many Goverriorates such as Wasit, Qasisia,
Najaf. Karbalah, Babil, Baghdad, Deila, Salahuldeen, and Anbar, the soil is ranged
from loam to silty loam. The soil is a deep soil. Palm trees are planted at 8-1Om.
distance, Citrus trees or vegetable crops are grown under palm trees. Palm tree
'roots in this area extend to more than 7m. from trunk and to a depth of about 3-4m.
Results of an experiment carried out in AI-Zafarania near Baghdad, by (Abu-
Khalid et. al. 1982), showed that 50% of roots were in the depth 0-60cm. and
about 30% between 60-120cm. depth, while 20% between 120-180cm. and that
the date palm tree absorb 50% of its water requirement from the upper layer (less
than 60cm.) and 30% from the layer 60-120cm. (Table 4).

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 Table 4: Roots Distribution of Date Palm Tree in a Silt Loam Soil in Zafarania
Area and the % of Water Absorbed from Different Depths. *

% Roots Dry % Moisture % Active Roots with Depth at

Soil Depth cm Absorbed Two Distances from the Trunk
Weight
0-60 51.6 52.0 23.3 27.8
60-120 28.5 34.0 32.8 25.9
120-180 19.9 . 11.0 27.1 26.5
180-240 3.0 5.6 5.0

* After Abu-Khalid et. al. 1982.

Shabana et. al. 1985, showed that most effective roots are in the 40-120 cm depth
(Tables 5 & 6).

Table 5: Vertical Distribution of Date Palm Roots var. Zahdi in a Silty Clay Loam
Soil*

Soil depth cm % of roots of different size in a 1Om:.!

section at different soil depth
Roots size mm
<1 mm 1-2 mm 2-3 mm >3mm
0-40 10.26 8.04 10.34 11.90
40-120 63.09 71.66 73.54 71.75
120-160 21.92 16.07 10.87 10.28
160-200 4.73 . 4.23 4.25 6.07

* Shabana, et. al. 1985.

Table 6: Horizontal distribution of date palm roots var. Zahdi*

Distance from % of roots different size in 10 m:.!section
trunk m < 1 mm 1-2 mm 2-3 mm >3mm
1 29.3 31.5 32.1 3.2
2 26.0 27.8 27.6 26.4
3 24.5 24.2 23.2 23.4
4 20.2 10.5 17.1 18.6

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 *Shabana, et. al. 1985.

Under such conditions, with such big root system, date palm trees would
benefit from fertilizers being added to citrus trees or crops grown under.
Therefore, farmers in this area rarely fertilize palm trees. The practice being used
is that they fertilize citrus trees every 2-3 years, by plowing or turning over the soil
around the trees including canals, then they make a trench 60-90 cm. wide and 40-
.60 cm. Deep in Autumn or Winter. Then they spread farm manure in the trench to
a depth of 15-30cm., then they irrigate the trees. When vegetable crops are grown,
chemical fertilizers are used in addition to farm manure. Green manure is also used
in this area especially at the first 5-6 years of the establishment of the orchards.
Conclusions

From the above discussion, it is clear that date palm tree in Iraq does not
receive great attention as far as fertilization and other agricultural practices which
resulted in low growth rate and low production. Generally 1.5-3Kg of nitrogen,
0.5Kg of phosphorus and 2-3Kg of potassium per tree yearly is recommended to
maintain optimum growth of palm tree. Long trials on the use of chemical
fertilizers in different areas is needed. Cooperation between Arab countries and
Scientific Institutions dealing with date palm tree studies is vital to face the
econoical competition the world over in the 21st ~entury. Large steps to modernize
dates production, storage and processes need to be taken to make date palm
growing is economical to farmers in Ir.aqas well as in the Arab World.
Literature Cited

AI-Bakr, Abdul-Jabbar, 1972. The Date Palm. Its past and present status. AI-
ani Press, Baghdad.

AI-Dekaili, A. A. and J. A. AI-Dejaili, 1989. Fruits Production. Ministry of

Higher Education Press, Mousil.

Abu-Khalid, T.; A. chudary and S. Abdul-Salam, 1982. Consumptive-use of

date palm tree in the middle of Iraq, (zafarania). Regional Project for the use of sol
and water in Near East and North Africa. FAQO Ministry of Irrigation, republic of
Iraq Report No. 124.

Ali, Y. and S. AI-Hashimi, 1992. The estimation of some important micro

elements in some Iraqi dates. Iraqi. J. Agric. Sciences, 23 (1) 12-17.

326

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 .-.

EI-Shurafa, M.Y. 1984. Studies on the amount of minerals annually lost by

way of fruit harvest and leaf pruning of date palm trees. The date palm 1.3 (1) 277-
286.

Furr, I.R., E. C. Corlin; R. H. Hilgemen and W. Reather, 1951. Irrigation and

fertlization experiment with Deglet Noor dates. Date growers Inst. Rep. No; 28, pp
17-20

Robison (ed.), 1972. Normal and Therapentic Nutrition 13thed. New York.
Mac. Co. USA.

Shabana, H. R., T.K. Ibrahim and S.S. Attar, 1982. A Study on root
distinction in phoenix Dactylifera. J. Agric. and Water Resaurces Res. 4 (2) pp
183-193.

Underwood, E. J. 1977. Trace elements in Human and Animal Nutrition. 4th

ed. AC. Press, New York, USA.

Yousif, A.K.; N.D. Ben Jamin; A. Kado; SheMehi AI-Deen and S.M. Ali,
1982. Chemical Composition of four Iraqi date cultivators, Date palm I. 1 (2) pp
285-294.

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