Investigation the Effects of Foliar Application of Organic Matter and Trace Elements on the Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Phoenix dactylifera c.v. Zahidi

In order to increase the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Zahidi dates, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of foliar application of organic matter and trace elements in the randomized complete blocks with 11 treatments and three replications in Jahrom city for two consecutive years. Using treatments time was in the beginning and end of Kimri stage. Treatments were including amino acid (500 and 1000 mgL-1); seaweed (250 and 500 mgL-1); trace elements including zinc, iron, manganese, and copper (1000 and 1500 gmL-1); amino acid 1000 mgL-1 + seaweed 500 mgL-1; amino acid 1000 mgL-1 + trace elements 1500 mgL-1; seaweed 500 mgL-1 + trace elements 1500 mgL-1; amino acid 1000 mgL-1 + seaweed 500 mgL-1 + trace elements 1500 mgL-1; and control treatment (distilled water). The treatments had significant influence on the all traits except fruit diameter, TSS, and pH. Highest weight percent of Khalal was observed in amino acid 1000 mgL-1+trace elements 1500 mgL-1 (10%), biggest Rutab weight was in amino acid 1000 mgL-1 + seaweed 500 mgL-1 (30%), greatest Tamar weight was in seaweed 500 mgL-1 (98%), highest waste percent was in amino acid 1000 mgL-1, and the number of fruits in bunch in treatment including seaweed 500 mgL-1 + trace element 1500 mgL-1 (994 fruits). But in the other quantitative traits especially yield, amino acid 1000 mgL-1 + seaweed 500 mgL-1 + trace element 1500 mgL-1 was better than other treatments. In assessment of qualitative traits, the highest flavor index was observed in amino acid 500 mgL-1.