Yield and Physico-Chemical Composition of Date-Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera) as Affected by Nitrogen and Zinc Application

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) fertilization on yield components and composition of Phoenix dactylifera L. cv. Kabkab during two growing seasons. This study was conducted by using factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with four replications. Aqueous solution of Zn was injected to trunk at the rate of 0, 1.15, and 2.30 g L-1. N was applied at 0, 160, 345, and 460 g per palm tree. Sources of N and Zn were urea and zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4 center dot 7H(2)O), respectively. Each year N fertilizer was added in two equal applications, one before flowering and one at fruit setting. N was applied at 1.5 m from the palm trunk. The trees were subjected to the usual farm management, for example, artificial pollination (only one source of pollen grains was used to avoid the metaxenic effects), pruning and irrigation. Results indicated that application of N and Zn had significant effects on fruit set, fruit yield, fruit weight, bunch weight, fruit size, N and Zn leaf contents, total soluble solids (TSS), reducing sugar and total sugar. However, more increments in these parameters were obtained with N in combination with Zn. The suitable combination of the nutrients found for date palm tree under the prevailing conditions was the application of 345 g N and 2.30 g L-1 Zn for injection.