HI
Date-palm. (Phoenix dactylifera L.).Some of the imported varieties of date-palm have been cultivated successfully in Punjab. This tree thrives in light as well as in heavy soils, provided the depth is adequate (2.5 to 3 metres) and the drainage is good. The plant is not affected by frost and requires intense heat in summer for the development and ripening of the fruits. The maxim 'head in fire and feet in water' indicates the conditions that are ideal for date-cultivation. If the water-table is within 3 to 3.5 metres from the surface, mature trees need no surface irrigation. A wet season during flowering and fruit-ripening is limiting factor in the successful cultivation of the date-palm. South-western Punjab, northern Rajasthan and Kutch offer suitable conditions for date growing.
Climate
The date palm is a tree flourishes well under varied sets of climate. However, for proper maturity of fruit, the date requires prolonged summer heat without rain or high humidity during the ripening period. A light shower with prolonged periods of cloudy weather and high humidity may cause more damage than a heavy rain followed by clear weather and drying winds. The mean temperature between the period of flowering and ripening of the fruit should be above 210 C rising to 270 C or higher for at least one month. For successful fruit maturation, nearly 3000 heat units are required. The heat units available in most of the north-western districts of India, counted from the time of flowering, i. e. end February to July, indicate that these are suitable for date palm cultivation. Taking this into consideration, parts of Rajasthan extending from Sri Ganganagar to Anupgarh, Jaisalmer and Barmer and Kutch district of Gujarat will be suitable for date cultivation. The climate of Abohar (Panjab) should be considered marginal because of rainfall (30 cm) and high humidity at the time of ripening (July-August) being the limiting factor.
Soil
The date palm can be grown in soils containing more alkali or salts. It can tolerate such condition better than many other fruit plants. In view of the large investment required to bring a date garden into bearing and maintain it on profitable production, sandy loam soil, 2 or 3 metres deep with good water holding capacity and drainage is most desirable. Date palm can tolerate high soil salinity. In the soil having 4 per cent salt concentrataion, dates can survive well provided the root system does not come in contact with a stratum of soil where the sodicity is more than 1 per cent.
Choice of Varieties :-Hillawi : It is soft date from Iraq, Khadrawi
Propagation Techniques :
The date palm are always propagated throughsuckers (offshoots) for commercial plantation. The suckers usually arise near the ground around the trunk. The offshoots arising at a higher level from the ground on tree trunk and with no roots give very poor survival. These are separated from the mother palms during March or August-September. The leaves are trimmed off 4 - 5 days before their detachment. The inner leaves should be cut back by one-half and the outer ones by two-thirds. The tender young unopened leaves near the central bud and parts of the bare stalks of the old leaves necessary to protect the bud, should be kept on the offshoots. The outer whirl of leaves may be fastened to afford protection from heat and cold to the central bud also facilitate detachment and transport.
The suckers weighing approximately 25 to 30 kg and well rooted should be removed. Expose the point of detachment and set a chisel (12 cm wide and 19 cm long) sharpened at the face and welded to a 150 cm long handle of 4 cm diameter. Drive in the chisel by hammering at the other end. It is very important that no injury is caused to the mother palm. Cut surface should by coated with tarcol or some suitable material immediately and earthed up.
Planting Operation :
The offshoots are planted 6 to 7 metres apart in the already prepared pits of 1 * 1 * 1 m size immediately after detachment. In this way 202 to 275 plants/hectare will be accomodated. If transported from long distance, the offshoots may be kept in the straight. The soil around the offshoots should be pressed firmly. The field is irrigated immediately after planting. Thereafter, frequent light irrigations are given to keep the soil always moist. At Abohar, the offshoots removed in March survived better in direct field planting than those removed in August-September. However, the separation could be done both in February-March and August-September.
REgards
Ashwini
