EFFECT OF NPK FERTILIZATION AND LEAF/BUNCH RATIO ON FRUIT YIELD AND QUALITY OF KHASTAWI DATE PALM

This study conducted in 2020–2021 sought to determine the impact of NPK fertilizer with three levels (F0: 0, F1: 900 g, F2: 1300 g) and three levels of pruning at the ratio of P1: 5, P2: 7, and P3: 9 leaves/bunch, to improve the fruit and quality of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. “Khastawi,” held at the Al-Zahfaraniah Palm Station, Baghdad Governorate, Iraq. Executing the study as a factorial experiment (3 × 3) within a randomized complete block design (RCBD) had three replications. Every two date palms as an experimental unit setup came from 54 trees aged 16 years and, as much as possible, homogeneous in growth characteristics. The experimental results showed that NPK fertilization at the F2 level was superior in all studied traits, including fruit set, weight, width, length, volume, seed and bunch weights, and total yield. The pruning treatment (P3) was significantly superior by giving the highest fruit set, width, and length values, whereas F0 and P2 treatments gave the lowest average for these traits. Furthermore, the interaction of F2P3 provided the highest rates in fruit weight, length, volume, seed, and bunch weights, and total yield, while the F0P1 treatment gave the lowest values.