Improvement and Development of Date Palm in the oasis of Al Jufrah
DATE PALM CULTIVATION IN AL JUFRAH OASIS Best Practices Edited by Bashir Gshera, Massimo Battaglia, Sergio Mugnai, Carlo Bergesio
The Project This publication has been produced as part of the Miglioramento e valorizzazione della palma da dattero nelle Oasi di Al Jufrah in Libia program for improving and promoting date palms in the oases of Al Jufrah in Libya, funded by the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and coordinated by the Istituto Agronomico per l'Oltremare (IAO) in Florence in collaboration with the Libyan Board of Improving and Developing Olive and Palm Trees. The project’s origins lie in the commitments made between Italy and Libya to strengthen and develop relationships between the two countries. The central government and local authorities in Libya share an interest in improving agricultural, forestry and pastoral systems. As part of the effort to support the agricultural improvement of land cleared of Second World War surplus, the Italian government has begun providing assistance and collaboration in the agro-zootechnical and environmental sector. In Al Jufrah, activities agreed on by the two countries began in May 2009. They are aimed at encouraging local economic development through coordinated actions to support producers of quality dates, whether individuals or associations. The strategy is led by two guiding principles: identifying and guaranteeing quality dates through production protocols that will ensure the consistency and quality of the final product; and protecting the agrobiodiversity of Al Jufrah by promoting the local palm varieties and strengthening traditional oasis-management systems. The initiative involves all the actors in the date production chain, reinforcing associations and relationships between producers, processors and traders; encouraging the protection of the environment and raising awareness about quality dates among consumers. This last objective will draw on experiences in Italy promoting typical local products using the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) systems, closely linking a product and its place of origin. The aims of the Italo-Libyan technical and scientific collaboration are to increase the quantity and quality of date production through the selection and genetic improvement of local varieties; to introduce cultivation systems able to optimize the use of water and energy resources and reduce negative external effects; and to improve processing systems and marketing domestically and abroad.
OFFSHOOT PROPAGATION selection, removal and planting Best weight and size of the offshoot: 10 - 15 Kg. Base diameter of the offshoot must be at least 20-25 cm and no more than 35 cm when removed from the mother plant. Removal: after 4-5 years from planting, depending on the variety, when the tips of the 2nd leaf from the bottom of the offshoots start to dry up and open. Best period for the removal: from March to April (also, from mid-August to midSeptember) in the morning. Offshoot planting on ground must be performed during the same day in the afternoon or, at the latest, the day after. Offshoot cleaning: remove the external leaves. Maintain at least five inner leaves by cutting them in half over the leaflet. Then tie together the leaves with the rachis of a leaf.
Put attention on: Use of root promoting hormones is advisable The operator for cutting must be qualified and effective in terms of n° of cut offshoot/hour, avoiding any symptoms of damage. He must possess suitable tools for cutting. Usually the best moment to collect offshoots is when the fruit starts to change its colour to yellow.
ESTABLISHMENT OF A DATE PALM PLANTATION land preparation and planting operations Plant spacing: 6x6 or 8x8 m. First, locate the places for holes on ground (good on sandy soil). Do not place the palms closer than 6 m from each other. 1st irrigation: lay down on ground the irrigation tubes and irrigate the places for holes for one month before digging in order to facilitate this operation.
6-8 m 6-8 m
Hole digging: remove the tubes used for the 1st irrigation and dig 1x1x1 m holes. In Waddan and Hun take care to accurately break the hard and calcareous underground layer.
1m 1m 1m
Planting: place the offshoot in the hole (leaves must stay off the ground to avoid any leak of water inside the leaves, causing the onset of an undesirable fermentation process). Fill the hole with the previous removed soil (except stones!) and compact well the soil.
Create a basin around the palm (diameter 1.5 m) to prevent water run-off. Place a male palm every 20-25 female palms.
2nd irrigation: (the best method is the drip irrigation): place the tubes under the ground between rows. Let the tubes (1-2 holes) appear over the ground in the basin of the plant.
Put attention on: ďƒź In the following years the diameter of the basin must increase until 3 m ďƒź After 3 years, add mix manure and sand around the trunk to help the rooting process of the new offshoots
Cover the offshoot with palm fibre to protect it against sun burning!
IRRIGATION After planting: the soil must be constantly wet around the roots in the first six weeks. When: irrigate in the early morning (until 10 AM) and/or in the late afternoon (after 6 PM). How many water: quantity varies respect to palm age and physiological stage. Offshoots: 1 h/day. Adult palm: 2 h/day from February to October; once a week during winter (to avoid early flowering!)
Put attention on: ďƒź The most critical period for irrigation goes from pollination to harvest: irrigation must be constant and carefully checked each day!
Saline water: increase the quantity for leaching requirements
FERTILIZATION from the 2nd year Fertilization depends on soil composition and water quality. Fermented organic manure: (the best choice) put the manure with water in a waterproof hole and let it ferment for 6 months. Manure is usually applied during winter time from December to early March. Non fermented organic manure: distributed in November around the trunk. Chemical fertilization: 1) DAP (diammonium phosphate) or NPK fertilizer (450 – 500 g /plant) 2) LINAFED (micronutrient fertilizer, 200 – 250 g/plant divided into two applications). Distribute around the trunk 1-2 times in spring or in summer (1st application divided in two Nord-South, 2nd one East-West)
Application method for LINAFED fertilization 50-60 g Nord
1st application 50-60 g
West
Palm trunk
Est
50-60 g
2nd application Sud 50-60 g
Put attention on: Organic manure ameliorates soil structure, increases soil fertility, promotes salinity reduction. In the following years the diameter of the basin must increase until 3 m after 3 years, add sand around the trunk to help the rooting process
TREATMENTS AGAINST DISEASES AND PESTS White scale (Parlatoria blanchardii) and mealy bug (Muconellicoccus hirsutus): Dursban* (150200 mL/100 L) or Cyperkill 25 EC* (150-200 mL/1000 L) plus mineral oil during wintertime.
Dust mite (May and June): Tedion* (200 mL/100 L). * Add a Irol (50 mL/100 L) plus mineral oil. Red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus): quarantine regulation for offshoots imported from Egypt. Bayoud: quarantine regulation for offshoots imported from Algeria and Morocco.
Frond borers and dybas insect: use pesticides such a Dursban or Cyperkill in June. Ephestia insect: the same thing applied when fruits start to mature until 3 weeks before harvest.
When: all treatments must be performed in the early morning or in the late afternoon. Distribution: use spreading machines. Prophylactic measures: distribute mineral oils and insecticides on the entire palm in December
INTERCROPPING Alfa-Alfa: sowing in Spring or Autumn. It has positive effects due to the nitrogen fixation, the microclimate improvement and heat reflection/reduction from the soil, but it needs high water requirements.
Other crops (maize, garlic, onion, vegetables, cereals as wheat, barley, oat): they can easily cultivated inside the basin, which is regularly irrigated.
POLLINATION When: from end of February to mid-April, depending on weather condition (temp. and humidity) and variety.
Which pollen: if possible, it’s advisable use the same male variety of the female to be pollinated.
Distribution: insert the pollen in the female inflorescence by hand or by a pole once they start opening. Hand pollination is about 3 times and depends on whenever the spate open and on the performance of the pollinator. In the bigger and modern farm a compressor should be helpful to better distribute the pollen.
FRUIT THINNING When: May. How much: leave 8 bunches (2 for each cardinal points). First, cut bunches without pollinated flowers. The higher the number of bunches on the plant, the smaller the fruits! Choose the bunches in the middle part of the canopy.
X X
Palm trunk
HARVEST When: from August to November (peak period: September - October) depending on variety and maturity stage Type of harvest: manual selection of the best fruits on the stalk or removal of the full stalk. Manual selection happens until midSeptember Cake preparation: harvest of Tamar fruits. The best variety is Tagiat. After harvesting (November): remove the partially/complete dry leaves. Do not remove the green leaves! Remove all the stalks (with or without fruits).
HARVEST TIMELINE IN AL JUFRA OASIS
AUG
SEPT
OCT
NOV
Abel Bamour Berni Bestian Deglet Halima Hamria Kathari Noyat Meka Omglaib Saiedi Saila Sokeri Tagiat Talis Tameg Tasferit Zebur
Different stages of maturity in Saidi variety
POST-HARVEST Immediately: wash and dry the fruits harvested at Tamar stage (Saiedi, Tagiat, Abel, Bestian, Deglet, etc.).
Storage: keep the fruit at -20 °C ¹
OTHER PRODUCTS FROM DATE PALM syrup, vinegar, lagbĂŹ and fiber Tamar: source of syrup and also vinegar
LagbĂŹ: best quality from Abel, Hamria, Zebur e Sokeri.
Wood from the trunks is used by the farmer for animal houses
Fiber: ropes, nets and other handicrafts that can be used from the leaves such as mats and baskets
MOST COMMON VARIETIES The most common varieties and those of greatest agricultural interest are listed here with their main carpological characteristics. Abel: Well-adapted to the area. Oval fruit, yellow with brown patches; smooth, tough, thick skin; hard flesh with a sweet but astringent flavor. High productivity, good market value, easy to harvest, store and transport. Sensible to pests. Bestian: With a low sugar content, this is the date variety most recommended for diabetes sufferers. Very soft. Good for postharvest processing. Quick ageing process. High productivity, sensitive to pests and water salinity. Deglet: The most valuable date variety in Libya, with Algerian origin. Characterized by a shiny skin, with soft and brownish-amber flesh. Mild sweet taste. Very suitable for long-period conservation. Sensitive to pests. Halima: Considered a rare delicacy, they represent the highest quality of date. The very soft fruits are larger than average and pleasantly sweet without being cloying. Low productive, with a high storability. Low offshoot production, with poor rooting ability. Hamria: Very abundant in Al Jufrah, particularly in Zellah and Al-Fugha. Suitable for dry farming system end also for production of animal feed and other things. Kathari: Highly esteemed, though slightly astringent; stays soft throughout the year; has a greenish-yellow fruit, oval, stubby, with a thick, hard skin and soft flesh. Slow growth of the palm. Resistant to soil and water salinity. Saiedi: Of ancient Egyptian origin, but now considered one of Libya’s most important varieties, it has a translucent dark-brown fruit, shaped like an elongated oval, with a thin, tender skin and soft, syrupy flesh. Palms quickly grow, resist to diseases and are very productive, producing a regular yield each year. Easy to harvest. The fruits have good market value due to their pleasant flavor and suitable to storage and transport. Tagiat: Dark-brown fruit, elongated oval in shape, with a smooth, thick, hard skin and soft flesh; keeps quite well. High and constant production every year. Early and prolonged harvest period, all the maturity stages of the fruit can be used. The best variety to prepare the past using Tamar stage.
www.libyandates.com
Realised in the framework of the Cooperation Project "Improvement and Valorisation of Date Palm in Al Jufrah Oasis". Financed by the General Direction for Development Cooperation of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Implemented by Istituto Agronomico per l'Oltremare of Florence (Italy) in partnership with the Improving and Developing Olive and Palm Trees Board (Tripoli, Libya); with the technical collaboration of the departments of Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural and Forestry Engineering, Crop, Soil and Environment at the University of Florence and the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity.
Edited by IAO 2010
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