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 mid-

September) 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.

1 m

1 m

1 m

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.

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.

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.

6-8 m

6-8 m

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:

In the following years the diameter of the basin must increase until 3 m

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!)

Saline water: increase the quantity

for leaching requirements

Put attention on:

The most critical period for irrigation goes from

pollination to harvest: irrigation must be

constant and carefully checked each day!

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

Nord

Sud

EstWest

50-60 g

Palmtrunk

50-60 g 50-60 g

50-60 g

1st application

2nd application

Application method for LINAFED fertilization

Nord

Sud

EstWest

50-60 g

Palmtrunk

50-60 g 50-60 g

50-60 g

1st application

2nd application

Application method for LINAFED fertilization

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)

TREATMENTS AGAINST DISEASES AND PESTS

White scale (Parlatoria blanchardii) and mealy bug (Muconellicoccus hirsutus): Dursban* (150-

200 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.

Palm

trunk

Palm

trunk

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

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 mid-

September

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).

Abel

Bamour

Berni

Bestian

Deglet

Halima

Kathari

Hamria

Noyat Meka

Omglaib

Saiedi

Zebur

Sokeri

Saila

Tagiat

Talis

Tasferit

Tameg

AUG SEPT OCT NOV

HARVEST TIMELINE IN AL JUFRA OASIS

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 ±

OTHER PRODUCTS FROM DATE PALM

syrup, vinegar, lagbì and fiber

Tamar: source of

syrup and also vinegar

Lagbì: 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

All rights reserved: IAO Via A. Cocchi n 4 Firenze – Italy www.iao.florence.it