Effects of Iron Levels and Methods of Application on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Date Palm Cultivar  Kabkab'

This research aimed to achieve the most effective levels and the methods of iron fertilizer application to improve the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of date palm cv. „Kabkab‟. The experiment was performed as a randomized complete blocks design consisted of fourteen treatments and three replications on fourty two palm trees. The treatments included: control¡ soil application of iron sulfate at four levels (500¡ 1000¡ 1500 and 2000 g per tree)¡ application of iron chelat at three levels (50¡ 100 and 150 g per tree) and trunk injection of iron sulfate in six levels (0¡ 10¡ 15¡ 25¡ 35 and 45 g per tree). The results showed soil applications of 1500 g iron sulfate¡ 100 g iron chelat and 15 g injection of iron sulfate lead to increasing quantitative and qualitative traits of fruit such as percentage of total soluble solids of fruit¡ the percentage of fruit flesh and¡ nitrogen¡ phosphorus and potassium content of fruit. However¡ soil application of iron fertilizers in calcareous soils of south provinces in addition to high costs (chelated iron)¡ creates insoluble oxides and hydroxides of iron (ferrous sulfate). Thus by injection of 15 g iron sulfate treatment (in comparison with the two treatments mentioned above)¡ various parts of the plant directly received iron and overcome the problem of absorption and transport of iron in calcareous soils.