Mineral Composition of the Palms Leaflets of the Date Palm

ABSTRACT

This work was realized in two Tunisian continental palm plantations (Deglet Nour). It aimed at studying the mineral composition of date palms' leaflets to base recommendations for foliar diagnosis on.

At pollination, three palms per palm tree were taken at the median position, the lower green palm, and the last open palm. Leaflets were analyzed on the entire palm split into 4 zones. A broad variation of the palm portions leaflets' mineral composition is shown. The median zone leaflet nitrogen (N) and magnesium (Mg) contents were the highest for all of the palm positions. A similar nitrogen and magnesium determination was noticed along each palm.

The highest calcium (Ca) content was at the base of the youngest palm and at the apex of the oldest palm; phosphorus (P) content was the reverse. The highest potassium (K) content was determined in the base palm leaflets.

For foliar diagnosis, median zone leaflet sampling of median palm at pollination is recommended.

Keywords:

• mineral content
• date palm
• Phoenix dactylifera
• foliar diagnosis
• leaflets
• Tunisia

Notes

∗: No thorns zone.