Date palm
Increasing Date Palm production, productivity and quality in Gulf countries by Root feeding and Aerial spray technique
- The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) tree belongs to the family Arecaceae and is considered as a symbol of life in the desert, as it tolerates high temperatures, water stress, and salinity more than many other fruit crops.
- It is one of the most valuable domesticated fruit trees in harsh semiarid and arid environments, and the range of subsistence products from its fruits and other parts of the large palm.
- Date palm also has religious importance. cultivated in the arid regions, is distributed throughout the Middle East, North Africa, South Sahel, areas of East & South Africa, Europe, Asia and USA with approximately 150 Million Trees worldwide.
Importance of date palm
- The Date Palm is cultivated for its high productivity and the high nutrient value of its fruit, for preserving ecosystems threatened by desertification and creating appropriate microclimate for agriculture under the arid conditions.
- In addition, its cultivation generates considerable opportunities for rural employment, provides a major source of income for farmers and ensures livelihood and food security of the rural areas.
- The Date Palm is a very good source of nutrition having 70% carbohydrates. 1 Kg Date Palm fruits give 3,000 Kg calories.
- It is also a good source of Vitamin – A, B-2, B-7, Potassium, Calcium, Copper, Manganese, Chlorine, Phosphorous, Sulphur and Iron, etc.
- The fruit plays an important role in the daily nutrition of human populations in regions where date palms are grown.
Causes of Degradation of Date Palm trees in Arab countries
- Arab countries possess 70% of the 120 million world’s date palms and are responsible for 67% of the global date production.
- During the past 50 years, date palm groves were subjected to degradation due to extensive exploitation resulting from the increase in the climate change, poor crop management, non-available/ timely available of essential inputs like fertilisers and plant protection measures.
- Date palm production faces serious problems such as low yields (poor nutrition), pests and disease and marketing constraints due to 30% of production loss during last decade which declined the productivity of date palm in the traditional growing areas.
- Besides, technical and socio-economic factors contributed for date palm degradation have affected the economic revenue from date production and its quality.
- Rehabilitation of date palm trees in the Arab countries is crucial and needs collaborative efforts to sustain the date palm production and productivity.
Why Date Palms need CAP Boooster
Date palm develops many nutrient deficiencies, important deficiencies are
Potassium (K)
One of the most common nutrient deficiencies found in palms is potassium deficiency.
Nitrogen (N)
Palms that lack nitrogen can show discoloration/yellowing.
Manganese (Mn)
This type of deficiency typically occurs in new fronds/leaves and is commonly referred to as “frizzle-top”. The ends of the fronds can appear curled, crinkled or stunted.
Magnesium (Mg)
Deficiency is characterized by a broad light-yellow band along the margin of the leaves/fronds with a green center. The yellowing can appear first on the older fronds and progresses onto the newer fronds.
Boron Deficiency
It causes a wide array of symptoms that occur on newly emerging palms and remain visible on the fronds as they age. The fronds will appear crumpled or can cause a severe bend in the tips, commonly known as ‘hook-leaf’. It can also present as transverse translucent streaking or puckering of the leaflets.
Iron Deficiency
Iron (Fe) deficiency can appear as interveinal or uniform chlorosis of the newest leaves, while the older leaves remain green.
Application
One litre of concentrated CAP Boooster has to be mixed with 2 litres of good quality water. This diluted 3 lit Cap Boooster has to be given as root feeding @ 300 ml / tree. ie., 1+2 =3 ltr can treat up to 10 trees.
To be root fed every 3 months once.
What CAP Boooster does in Date Palm?
Promotes Stem hardiness
CAP Boooster contains a plant hormones and vitamins responsible for stem strength and hardiness to with stand under environmental stress conditions.
Improves root growth
CAP Boooster improves the root system of date palms to adjust to exploit both the surface-soil water with shallow roots and the groundwater with its vertical roots that can reach deeper than 5 m into the ground
Enhance the Rhizozphere activity
CAP Boooster improves the Rhizozphere activity of roots close to the soil surface and to regulate the respiration to
Developing Aerial roots
CAP Boooster improves the development of pneumatophores in Date palm roots, tubular poly-like roots that grow out from primary or lateral contribute to increasing the spatial root distribution to maximize water uptake
With stand in prolonged drought
CAP Boooster improves suberized barriers in date palm roots in outer root layers and stimulate the accumulation lignin in the inner epidermis and exodermis also to prevent water loss to the soil.
Boosts Flowering and Fruiting
CAP Boooster provides the necessary nutrients and hormones that lead to enhance pollination and fruit set, and increases the quality fruit production.
Supports Healthy Leaf Growth and leaf number
CAP Boooster maintain healthy leaves and assures better tree growth contains all essential nutrients like Nitrogen Potassium, Zinc, calcium, and magnesium, which are taking care the dark green foliage and thickness enhances the photosynthesis capacity date palm.
What CAP Boooster does in Date Palm?
- Increases green pigment content of leaves
- Improves photosynthetic capacity
- Increases lifespan and vigour of the palm
- Increases kernel thickness
- Increases number and size of nuts
- Increases fruit yield up to 20 per cent
- Imparts resistance to pests, diseases and environmental stresses.