Effect of Irrigation Interval on Establishment and Vegetative Growth of Sayer Date Palm Suckers

Irrigation practice is one of most effective factor on establishment and suitable growth of date palm suckers. The water stress after sucker planting will dry date suckers. This study was carried out in a randomized complete blocks design with six treatments and three replications: namely irrigation after 2, 3 and 4 days in first, second and third months, respectively, 7 days in summer and autumn seasons and 10 days in winter season; irrigation after 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 mm evaporation from class A pan in first, second, third and fourth months and the rest of year, respectively; irrigation after 30, 45, 60 and 75 mm evaporation from class A pan in first, second and third months and the rest of year, respectively; irrigation after 45, 60 and 75 mm evaporation from class A pan in first and second months and the rest of year, respectively; irrigation after 60 and 75 mm evaporation from class A pan in first month and the rest of year and irrigation after 75 mm evaporation from class A pan. The water requirement was calculated based on FAO pan method. The sucker growth characteristics such as establishment percent, plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and width, number of leaflets, leaflet length and width and truck diameter were measured. The results showed that irrigation interval treatments had significant effect on number of leaves, number of leaflets, leaflet length and width. The most vegetative growth of sucker obtained from irrigation after 45, 60 and 75 mm evaporation from class A pan in first and second months and the rest of year, respectively.