DATE PALM

Date palm is oldest tree cultivated on earth. They are excellent source of calcium, sugar, iron and potassium. They are used in many social and religious festivals. Also they have many health benefits like relive constipation, reduce heart disease, control diarrhea and help in pregnancy.  

Date cultivation is mainly concentrated in Arabic countries, Israel and Africa. Iran is major producer and exporter of dates. From last decades Indian Government take lot of effort and increased area under date palm cultivation. In India, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are major date growing states. In Rajasthan, state government promote date farming in 12 districts i.e Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Nagaur, Pali, Jalore, Jhunjhunu, sirohi and churu and gives various subsidy to encourage its farming. Near about 813ha is under date palm cultivation.

It can be cultivated in any soil, don’t have any specific requirement. But for good growth and yield, it required well drained, deep sandy loam soil. pH of soil should be in range of 7-8. Avoid soils having hard pan upto 2meter below soil layer. Saline and alkaline soils are also suitable for cultivation but yield obtained is low.
 

Halawy: High yielding variety and suitable for growing in Rajasthan climate. Dates are soft and suitable for fresh eating. Average yield obtained from one tree is about 100-125kg.

Medjool: Late maturing variety. Fruit is large, elongated in shape and medium in size. Average yield of 75-100kg is obtained from individual tree. 

Barhee: High yielding and late maturing variety. Fruits are medium to small in size and of golden color. On ripening they become soft with rich flavour. Average yield obtained from one tree is about 80kg.

Khunezi: Early maturing variety. Fruits are of red color with elongated shape. It can withstand in high humidity level. Average yield of 40kg per tree is obtained.

Khadarawyi: Fruits are soft and of yellow color. Average yield of 60-80kg per tree is obtained.

Khalas: Fruits are elongated in shape and of medium size. Fruits are yellowish brown. Sweetness of fruit is medium, not too low, and not too high.
 
Shamran (Sayer)

Zahidi

Wild date palm

Jamli

Plough land thoroughly for two to three times and bring soil to fine tilth. After leveling of soil, dig pits of 1m x 1m x 1m size in summer month. Keep open these pits for two weeks and then fill it with well decomposed cowdung and fertile soil. Also add Chlorpyriphos@50ml or Phorate 10G@200gm and Captan@20-25gm in each pit.

Time of sowing
In monsoon, optimum time for date palm cultivation is in July-August. Whereas in spring season, complete planting in February - March month.

Spacing
For transplantation, dig pits of 1m x 1m x 1m at distance of 6m or 8meter (square system).

Sowing Depth
For transplantation, dig pits of 1m x 1m x 1m size.

Method of sowing
Transplant suckers in main field.

 

Seed Rate
When row to row and plant to plant spacing of 6meter is used, near about 112 seedling are accommodates in one acre. Whereas for 8mx8m spacing 63 seedlings are accommodates per acre.

Seed Treatment
To stimulate rooting, before transplantation in pit, dipped shoot base of suckers in IBA@1000ppm and Chlorpyrifos@5ml per Ltr of water for two to five minutes.

Propagation of date palm is done with help of suckers as propagation with seeds is impractical. Select Suckers or offshoots from mother plant. Suckers are obtained from 4 or 5th year after planting. Ideal weight of suckers should be of 15-20kg. Mould mixture of well decomposed cowdung, sand and sawdust around suckers, six month or year before its separation. At time of separation, remove older leaves and take single cut.

As like seed propagation, propagation with suckers also has some limitations. In Rajasthan, Tissue culture techniques are used for propagation purpose. Saplings obtained from tissue culture are costly but Rajasthan government is providing subsidy of 75% to drip farmers.
 

For first harvesting, 4 to 5 years are required. In between vegetables like guar gum, rice, chilly, peas, brinjal etc can be taken as intercrop. 

Nutrient Requirement (gm/plant)

Apply well decomposed cowdung@40-50kg per plant every year in month of August-September. Date palm required Nitrogen fertilizer@500-1500gm per plant before sowing and at time of flowering. Also every year apply Phosphorus@500-1000gm and Potash@ 250gm-500gm per plant.

For 10 year old plant, apply well decomposed cowdung@25kg, Nitrogen@750gm, Phosphorus@125gm and Potash@125gm and Sulphur@50gm per plant in month of August-September.
 

Keep field clean and free from weeds. Take weeding or hoeing operations depending upon intensity of weeds. Use mulch for weed control.

For newly planted crop, provide irrigation at regular interval upto three month. In summer, apply irrigation at interval of seven days whereas in winter season; apply irrigation at interval of 15 days. Avoid water stress at flowering, fruiting and maturity stress. Keep sufficient moisture in soil. Mulching is also effective way to minimize water use along with weed control. Apply black polythene paper around base of plant. 

• Pest and their control:
  

Termites: These pests attack on the roots of the plants. For termite control apply Chlorpyrifos through drip irrigation.

To control termites, mix 800ml chlorpyrifos in 150 ltr of water and apply in the roots of the plants.

Lesser Date Moth: As a preventive measure, take two spray of Deltamethrin@2ml/Ltr of water with interval of 15 days. Take first spray at fruit bearing stage.

Bird: When crop reaches in doka stage, fruits are damaged by bird. Cover bunch with thin wire net.

White/red Scale: Remove scale infested branches or leaves and destroyed them away from field. If infestation is observed, take spray of Acetamiprid@60gm/100Ltr or Imidacloprid@60ml/100Ltr of water.

• Disease and their control:
  

Graphiola leaf  Spot: They are caused by fungus under humid conditions. Gray color spots are observed on both sides of leaves.

To control this disease take foliar spray of Copper Oxychloride@3gm/Ltr of water or Mancozeb@2gm/Ltr of water.

Alternaria leaf blight: If infestation is observed, take spray of Mancozeb + Carbendazim@2gm/Ltr of water. Take second spray with interval of 15 days. 

Fruit rot: Rainfall or high humidity at time of fruting to maturity stage are main cause of fruit rot.

Cover bunches with paper in early khalal stage. Remove few fruit strands from centre of bunch, it will provide ventilation and drying of wet fruits.  If infestation is observed, take spray of Mancozeb + Carbendazim@2gm/Ltr of water.

Four to five year after plantation, date palm tree are ready for first harvest. Fruits are harvested at three stages, Khalal or doka stage (fresh fruits), soft or ripen stage (pind or tamar) and dry stage (chuhhara). In Rajasthan, for making chuhhara or pind khajur, fruits are harvested at doka stage. Complete harvesting before start of monsoon season.

After harvesting at doka stage, wash fruits with clean water. For chuhhara making purpose, they are dried in sun or in dryer at temperature of 40-45°C for 80 to 120 hours.