A note on the effect of pruning on yield and fruit quality of date palm, cultivar Mishrig Wad Laggai under Khartoum conditions

Dawoud, D.H., Ahmed, F.A.

           Abstract

           The experiment was carried during 1999 to 2001 at a private orchard of 20 years old trees in Al Halfaia; cultivar was Mishrig Wad laggai. Except for 10 bunches in each tree; the selected trees were pollinated in the first week of March in each season by pollen of the same male. The experimental plot comprised three trees and five pruning treatments replicated three times and arranged in a randomized complete block design. In each season, the pruning treatments were applied in October after harvesting in the first week of September. The pruning treatments were: control, 12 leaves /bunch (120 leaves /palm), 10 leaves/ bunch (100 leaves /palm), 8 leaves /bunch (80 leaves /palm) and 6 leaves /bunch (60 leaves /palm). The results showed that the highest yield was obtained with pruning treatment of 10 leaves /bunch and the lowest was from 6 leaves /bunch. Generally, the same treatment also resulted in higher fruit volume, higher fruit moisture, total sugar and reducing sugar percentages. The study advised that pruning Mishrig Wad laggai to 10 leaves /bunch was most suitable to combine both high yield and quality attributes.