Impact of mineral, organic and bio-fertilizers on leaf mineral contents, bunch characters and yield of zaghloul date palm

Author : Zagzog, O.A.I. and Selim, M.A.F.

The experiment carried out in El Adlia, Blbas, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt during two
successive seasons (2017 and 2018). This study was conducted to investigate the responses of date palm
(Phoenix dactylifera, L.) cv Zaghloul, to nine different fertilizers treatments i.e. control (0.0 N), and full
nitrogen dose (as recommended) shared between three sources of nitrogen i.e. mineral (N), organic (Org)
and bio (M) forms and its various possible combinations. The results showed that fertilization treatments
significantly affected leaf N, P and K percentages and led to increase bunch weight (kg) and yield/tree (kg)
compared with control treatment. Bio-fertilization treatment registered the highest values of bunch weight
and yield/tree and the least were recorded by the control treatment. Full N dose as mineral fertilizer gave the
highest values of N percentage. The highest values P percentage obtained from the palms fertilized by halfN dose of both organic and mineral+ bio-fertilizers (EM). Meanwhile, the highest values of K recorded with
the palms received quarter organic + 3/4 mineral forms. The lowermost values of N, P, and K percentages
were recorded by unfertilized palms (control). Bio-fertilizer form improved number of strands/bunch and
number of fruits/strands followed by full N dose as organic fertilizer+ bio-fertilizers (EM) in the first season
and with bio-fertilization the second season. The least values of number strands/bunch, number of
fruits/strands, strands length and length of place of fruit on strand recorded by the control treatment. Biofertilization treatment registered the highest values of bunch weight and yield/tree. Adversely the least values
recorded by the control treatment, meanwhile other various combinations between N sources treatments
were in between in this respect.

Keywords : Date palm, fertilizer, organic, bio-fertilizer, bunch characters, yield.,

Received:1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM; Accepted: 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM