EFFECT OF NUMBER OF BUNCHES AND LEAF : BUNCH RATION ON FRUTING OF SAIEDY DATE PALMS

Date palm cultivar selected for this trial was “Saiedy” of the same age
10 years old and size at El-Dakhla Oasis, New Valley Governorate, Egypt.
The experiment was repeated for two successive years (2019 and 2020).
Palms in good physical condition, devoid of pest damage and diseases
grown on sandy loam soil and drip irrigation were selected for each
treatment. The trials were set up in a three-replication with randomized
complete block statistical design (one palm tree for each replication). Both
leaves and bunches were pruned to achieve a specific bunch/palm and leaves
/bunch ratio, and date palms were randomly assigned to 7 different
treatments as follows; Control (only the dead leaves were discarded), 9
bunch/palm + 8 leaves/bunch, 9 bunch/palm + 9 leaves/bunch, 9 bunch/palm
+ 10 leaves/bunch,10 bunch/palm + 8 leaves/bunch, 10 bunch/palm + 9
leaves / bunch and 10 bunch/palm + 10 leaves/bunch. Results indicated that;
fruit physical parameters as (bunch weight, fruit weight (g), flesh weight (g),
seed weight (g), fruit size and dimensions (length, diameter (cm) and fruit
shape as well as fruit volume (cm3
). Generally, all applied leaf/bunch ratios
had a positive effect on the measured physical properties of “Saiedy” date
palm fruits in comparison with control. The ratio 10 bunch/palm + 9 leaves
/ bunch gave the best results regarding the tested characteristics of „Saiedy
date palms under the studied region.