Comparative Evaluation of Date Palm Types (Phoenix dactylifera L.) under the Conditions of the Northern State, Sudan

Abstract

This study was accomplished to assess the comparative
performance of the dry, semi-dry and soft date palm types under the
conditions of the Northern State, Sudan. Four date representative
cultivars, grown in Elghaba Agricultural Scheme, were compared;.their
age ranged between 30 and 34 years. The cultivars were Barakawi and
Gondaila (dry), Wadkhteeb (semi-dry) and Madina (soft). Data recorded
for vegetative growth parameters were stem circumference, leaf number
and length, number of pinnae/leaf, length of pinnae, number of thorns/leaf
and width of leaf base. Data were also collected for number of bunches,
bunch weight and yield/palm. The results indicated significant differences
between the four cultivars. Wadkhteeb excelled the other cultivars in
number of leaves, bunch weight and yield/palm, without being affected by
the phenomenon of alternate bearing. The superiority of Wadkhteeb in
yield is indicative of the suitability of the semi-dry cultivars to the
conditions of the Northern State.