IRRIGATION OF DATE PALM AND

ASSOCIATED CROPS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Hussein M. Al-Ghobari

Abdulrasoul M. Alomran

College of Food Sciences and Agric.

King Saud University

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

List of Contents

List of FiguresList of Tables

IntroductionDate palm production in Saudi ArabiaFood UsesOther UsesDate palm varietiesLocation and climateLand and Water ResourcesAgricultural Practices for Date Palm HusbandryPropagation MethodsRoot System

Land and Soil preparationPlantation of offshootsSoil salinity and date palmDate palm spacingFertilization RequirementPest and Diseases in Date Palm

Financial and economic importance of date palm production in Saudi ArabiaFinancial and Economic ImportanceDried dates production in Saudi Arabia2000 Categories of PalmsSaudi Arabia is the biggest producer29 National FactoriesEncouraging investors

Irrigation of Date Palm and

Associated Crops

History of date palm irrigationCurrent Irrigation Management and PracticesIrrigation methodsIrrigation managementIrrigation Water ManagementWater resourcesConventional ResourcesNon-conventional resourcesIrrigation water demand managementSalinity of Irrigation water

Classification of irrigation water quality

Soil salinitySalinity and date palm productionLeaching requirementIrrigation SchedulingIrrigation Scheduling of Date PalmIrrigation Scheduling MethodsEstimation EvapotranspirationEstimating Crop ETEstimating Reference Evapotranspiration (ETr)Crop CoefficientsDeficit Irrigation

Irrigation water use efficiency

Constrains Facing the Development of Date Palm in Saudi ArabiaIrrigation frequency and its variability in timeCritical stages of water stress in the soil and their influence on dates

Institutional responsibilitiesIrrigation Institutions under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture SubsidiesTechnical SupportOperation and Maintenance

Considerations and recommendations

CONCLUSIONS

References

Date palm production in Saudi ArabiaTable 1. Estimated Number of Date Palm Trees by Region for the Years 1999 to 2005.

RegionRegion1999199920022002200320032004200420052005

RiyadhRiyadh4160565416056544934104493410470283047028304941944494194449725294972529

MakkahMakkah1781466178146619239831923983189010018901001773830177383020274312027431

MadinaMadina2299666229966624836392483639270137227013722810870281087028439022843902

QasseimQasseim3120558312055833702033370203318870531887053790032379003239225613922561

Eastern ProvinceEastern Province2579856257985627862442786244290711529071152919608291960825446522544652

AssirAssir2289709228970924728862472886169869116986911900168190016818299331829933

TabukTabuk627595627595677803677803895940895940899863899863870023870023

HailHail1315040131504014202431420243198809119880911780201178020116968041696804

Northern Northern FrontierFrontier

1751175118911891194219421826182620472047

JizanJizan774677468366836611172111728738873873607360

NajiranNajiran437512437512472513472513387136387136443709443709608488608488

AlbahaAlbaha1029561029561111921111928895288952124894124894145177145177

JoufJouf58076858076862722962722986206586206589217489217411550761155076

TotalTotal19305188193051882084960220849602213241112132411122287857222878572262598322625983

Estimated area and production of dates crop by region in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Agriculture, 2006.)

SeasonsSeasons20052005**20042004200320032002200220012001

RegionRegionPRODPROD..AREAAREAPRODPROD..AREAAREAPRODPROD..AREAAREAPRODPROD..AREAAREAPRODPROD..AREAAREA

RiyadhRiyadh22329022329038409384092130652130653736137361212398212398331283312820993820993833432334322077062077063355233552

MakkahMakkah64680646801068610686690026900297739773681096810989818981697346973490729072633056330591919191

MadenahMadenah10099110099119384193841009061009061881918819986649866418199181999029890298175361753690697906971718117181

QaseemQaseem17286317286334176341761608441608443580835808138470138470342773427713004113004134402344021264511264513372833728

EasternEastern13473513473511221112211297111297111163911639118667118667110431104310426910426911766117661034701034701208512085

AseerAseer502895028965696569726667266671547154804448044483928392828028280280168016809148091480618061

TabukTabuk445824458239523952300783007844374437296912969146784678278162781647154715273002730044644464

HailHail104001104001170001700097284972841488914889851598515913979139796823268232129241292469049690491265312653

NorthernNorthern1011011212696914148484121266668861611717

JazanJazan243243186186221221166166298298205205130130318318147147318318

NajranNajran201312013131463146179221792233903390141251412534383438134621346230453045134261342630783078

BahaBaha502750271253125335473547963963272927297127123006300668068035123512698698

JoufJouf495544955447504750459784597843894389352513525143784378297462974640654065318493184940734073

KingdomKingdom970488970488150744150744941293941293148801148801884088884088141421141421829540829540139979139979817887817887139099139099

Table 3. Means of Area and Production of Date Palm

RegionsRegions

Means for Season 2001 - 2005Means for Season 2001 - 2005

Mean AREAMean AREAMean PROD.Mean PROD.Prod./AreaProd./Area

hectarehectaretontonton hton h-1-1

RiyadhRiyadh35176.435176.4213279.4213279.46.0631396.063139

MakkahMakkah9540.69540.666966669667.0190557.019055

MadenahMadenah18223.818223.896311.296311.25.2849135.284913

QaseemQaseem34478.234478.2145733.8145733.84.2268394.226839

EasternEastern11550.811550.8118170.4118170.410.2304910.23049

AseerAseer7638.47638.473423734239.6123539.612353

TabukTabuk4449.24449.231893.431893.47.1683457.168345

HailHail142891428984745847455.9307865.930786

NorthernNorthern12.612.676.276.26.0476196.047619

JazanJazan238.6238.6207.8207.80.8709140.870914

NajranNajran3219.43219.415813.215813.24.9118474.911847

BahaBaha861.2861.23564.23564.24.1386444.138644

JoufJouf4331433138475.638475.68.8837688.883768

KingdomKingdom144008.8144008.8888659.2888659.26.1708676.170867

Date palm varieties:

Location and climate

Land and Water Resources

Agricultural Practices for Date Palm Husbandry Propagation Methods:

Land and Soil preparation:

Plantation of offshoots

Soil salinity and date palm

Date palm spacing

Fertilization Requirement

Pest and Diseases in Date Palm:

Financial and Economic Importance

Dried dates production in Saudi Arabia

Irrigation of Date Palm and Associated Crops

History of date palm irrigation

Figure 15. Unpaved canals used to carry irrigation water to the field.

Figure. 16. Cement canals used carry irrigation water to field.

Current Irrigation Management and

Practices

Figure17. Irrigation of date palm tree by drip system

using orifice emitter method

Figure18. Irrigation of date palm tree by drip

system using bubbler method.

Figure19. Irrigation of date palm tree using systems

Figure 20. Irrigation of date palm tree by drip system using spray method

Irrigation management

Irrigation Water Management

Water resources

Table 9.Table 9. Growth of Water Use in Saudi Arabia, 1980–Growth of Water Use in Saudi Arabia, 1980–20102010 (millions of cubic meters) (millions of cubic meters)

Domestic and industrial Domestic and industrial (per cent)(per cent)

AgriculturalAgricultural (per cent)(per cent)

TotalTotal

1980198050250221.321.31,8501,85078.778.72,3522,352

199019901,6501,6506.066.0625,58925,58993.9493.9427,23927,239

199219921,8701,8705.95.929,82629,82694.194.131,69631,696

199719972,0632,06311.1711.1716,40616,40688.8388.8318,46918,469

200020002,9002,90020.5720.5711,20011,20079.4379.4314,10014,100

201020103,6003,60019.6719.6714,70014,70080.3380.3318,30018,300

Sources: MOP 1990; Dabbagh and Abderrahman 1997 (agricultural and total use, 1990 and 1992).

Table 10. Water supply in Saudi Arabia, 1990–1997 (millions of Table 10. Water supply in Saudi Arabia, 1990–1997 (millions of cubic meters)cubic meters)

  19901990% a% a19921992% a% a19971997% a% a

Surface water and Surface water and shallow aquifers shallow aquifers (renewable)(renewable)

2,100 2,100

13132,1402,140772,1402,1401212

Groundwater (non-Groundwater (non-renewable)renewable)

24,48924,489 838328,57628,576 909015,37615,3768383

DesalinationDesalination540540 33795795 2279579544

Treated wastewater Treated wastewater effluentseffluents

1101100.70.7 1851850.60.618518511

TotalTotal27,23927,239  31,69631,696  18,49618,496  

Sources: MOP 1990 estimate; Dabbagh and Abderrahman 1997. Sources: MOP 1990 estimate; Dabbagh and Abderrahman 1997. aaPercentages do not add to 100 due to rounding.Percentages do not add to 100 due to rounding.

Agriculture Area 4,050,490 ha

Traditional irrigation Rain- fed Modren Irrigation

Figure 22. Classification of agriculture holdings per water source (Ministry of Agriculture,1999)

Salinity of Irrigation waterTable13. Salient Features of Different Aquifers (Ministry of agriculture and water, 1985)

AquifersAquifersWater DepthWater Depth

( m )( m )DischargeDischarge

( Ls( Ls-1-1 ) )LocationLocation

(Region of Saudi Arabia)(Region of Saudi Arabia)

Al-SaqAl-Saq150 – 1500150 – 1500100100Central - NorthCentral - North

WajidWajid150 – 900150 – 90040 – 8040 – 80SouthernSouthern

TabukTabuk60 – 250060 – 250015 – 2015 – 20Central - NorthCentral - North

MinjurMinjur1200 – 20001200 – 200060 – 12060 – 120CentralCentral

DhrumaDhruma10010060 – 12060 – 120CentralCentral

BiyadhBiyadh30 – 20030 – 20025 – 5025 – 50NorthernNorthern

WasiaWasia100 – 800100 – 80085 – 11085 – 110Central - EastCentral - East

Umm-ER-Umm-ER-RadhumaRadhuma

160 – 200160 – 20050 – 10050 – 100EasternEastern

DammamDammam50 – 10050 – 1007 – 227 – 22EasternEastern

NeogeneNeogeneNANA50 – 10050 – 100EasternEastern

JilhJilhNANA10 – 1810 – 18West – RiyadhWest – Riyadh

KhuffKhuffNANA7 – 237 – 23East – El-QawayhEast – El-Qawayh

ArumaArumaNANA30 – 3230 – 32Central - EastCentral - East

JubaliaJubaliaNANANANACentralCentral

BasaltBasaltNANANANAWesternWestern

AluuvialAluuvialNANA5050Western - CostalWestern - CostalNA, data not available.

Table 14. Mean Chemical Composition of Ground waters

AquiferAquifer

Mean Composition ( mg LMean Composition ( mg L-1-1 ) )

SamSample ple No.No.

ECECdSmdSm-1-1TDSTDSCaCa22

++MgMg2+2+NaNa++HCOHCO33--ClCl--SOSO442-2-OO33

--CaCa2+2+/Mg/Mg2+2+ClCl--//S0S044

2-2-SARSARadjRadjRNa+Na+Adj Adj SARSAR

ClasClasss

Al-SaqAl-Saq51512.822.82195195002322324949442442129129683683368368----2.842.842.512.516.866.867.187.1813.8613.86C4 C4

S2S2

WajidWajid87872.212.21120120001281282828149149188188269269294294----2.752.751.241.243.103.103.773.776.546.54C3 C3

S2S2

TabukTabuk39391.681.68136136001041044040196196171171305305603603----1.561.560.670.674.134.134.284.288.098.09C3 C3

S2S2

MinjurMinjur54541.561.56139139001621626060204204165165338338419419----1.621.621.091.093.473.474.024.027.087.08C4 C4

S2S2

DhrumaDhruma38382.742.74185185003533531401403583581691696066066536531051051.511.511.251.254.074.076.046.049.289.28C4 C4

S2S2

BiyadhBiyadh1631637.447.44477477008398392082084044041861866406401270127015152.422.420.690.693.233.235.685.688.798.79C4 C4

S2S2

WasiaWasia3473478.248.2448648600535535102102121121

0018918931331385885831313.153.150.490.4912.5312.5313.9513.9531.8331.83C4 C4 S2S2

Umm-Umm-ER-ER-

RadhumRadhumaa

4694693.863.8629529500355355123123547547189189750750703703----1.731.731.441.446.366.367.547.5415.0115.01C4 C4

S2S2

DammaDammamm4414413.973.97266266

0028528511511547147117817842042072172112121.491.490.790.795.935.936.716.7113.9413.94C4 C4 S2S2

NeogeneNeogene5385383.453.452692690025625615715749549518318363063086586538380.980.980.990.995.985.986.496.4913.5113.51C4 C4

S2S2

Jilh*Jilh*61615.075.073793790048148119819853253213913978578519501950----1.461.460.540.545.145.146.166.1612.0312.03C4 C4

S2S2

Khuff*Khuff*67674.894.89385385004574572272275895891501501030103016701670----1.211.210.830.835.605.606.556.5513.2213.22C4 C4

S2S2

Aruma*Aruma*39393.163.1621221200247247939337237218718747347366966956561.591.590.960.965.115.115.925.9211.6511.65C4 C4

S2S2

Jubailia*Jubailia*37373.503.5024724700230230107107296296217217112011206746742072071.291.292.252.254.034.034.774.779.279.27C4 C4

S2S2

Basalt*Basalt*45452.132.1318318300116116878740040022422474674627427440400.800.803.683.686.816.816.626.6214.1014.10C3 C3

S2S2

Alluvial*Alluvial*357357662.602.60168168

0021021010010043743720620627527544944915151.261.260.830.836.196.196.806.8013.7413.74C4 C4 S2S2

Table 17. Physical and chemical properties of some sites in Eastern Oasis of Al-Hassa region under date palm cultivation

DepthDepth(cm)(cm)TextureTexture

sandsandSiltSiltClayClayOrganic Organic CarbonCarbonCaCOCaCO33pHpHECEC

--------------------------- % ---------------------------------------------- % -------------------PastePastedSmdSm-1-1

Site 1 ( 22 yrs palm ) Typic HaplaquollsSite 1 ( 22 yrs palm ) Typic Haplaquolls

00 – – 6565SLSL57.157.127.727.715.215.20.680.6838.338.38.28.22.42.4

6565 – – 130130SLSL57.657.622.722.719.719.70.430.4341.541.58.18.13.03.0

130130++LSLS88.688.61.31.310.210.20.060.0612.612.68.38.32.92.9

Site 2 ( 40 yrs palm + rice ) Aquic TorriorthentsSite 2 ( 40 yrs palm + rice ) Aquic Torriorthents

00- - 3030LL44.144.136.736.719.219.20.310.3154.654.68.08.04.04.0

3030 – – 163163CLCL46.146.125.725.728.228.20.180.1852.652.68.18.15.25.2

Site 3 ( 25 yrs palm ) Typic HaplaquollsSite 3 ( 25 yrs palm ) Typic Haplaquolls

00 – – 4040SILSIL45.645.652.252.22.22.20.830.8330.630.68.38.33.33.3

4040 – – 100100SCLSCL53.653.626.726.719.719.70.380.3844.444.48.38.34.14.1

100100––117117SICSIC3.33.353.853.842.942.90.000.0062.862.88.18.14.74.7

Site 4 ( 30 yrs palm ) Typic HaplaquollsSite 4 ( 30 yrs palm ) Typic Haplaquolls

00 – – 2020SLSL45.645.630.030.015.415.40.620.6239.439.48.48.41.61.6

2020 – – 8080SLSL53.553.527.527.519.019.00.650.6544.144.18.28.22.32.3

8080 – – 116116LL34.634.643.043.022.422.40.320.3260.060.07.57.53.13.1

116116++CC15.015.034.034.051.051.00.250.2550.750.77.87.82.52.5

Site 5 ( 22 yrs palm ) Typical HaplaquentsSite 5 ( 22 yrs palm ) Typical Haplaquents

00 – – 1515LL50.150.130.530.519.419.41.001.0052.852.87.87.84.44.4

1515 – – 7575LL47.147.131.531.521.421.40.680.6856.356.37.67.63.33.3

7575 – – 145145CLCL37.637.629.029.033.433.40.650.6549.649.67.87.83.53.5

145145 – –170170CLCL34.134.127.027.038.938.90.340.3446.546.57.87.85.15.1

Salinity and date palm production

Y = 100- b × (ECe –a) ................[4]

Where:Y = relative yield b = the rate yield declines with increasing salinity. a = threshold salinity value for date palm ( 4 dS/m)ECe = electrical conductivity of root zone

Table 19. Soil salinity (ECe) and irrigation

water salinity (ECw) date palm

(Ayers and Westcot, 1985 )

water salinity

(EC dSm-1)

Yield PotentialYield Potential

100100%%

9090%%

7575%%

5050%%

maximum maximum ECEC

ee

ECECee ( dSm ( dSm-1-1 ) )446.86.810.910.917.917.93232

ECECww ( dSm ( dSm-1-1 ) )2.72.74.54.57.37.312.012.0----

Leaching requirement

LR = ECw /(5 ECe –ECw)…………[5]

WhereLR = leaching requirement ECw = electrical conductivity of irrigation water (dS/m)ECe = electrical conductivity of the soil in root zone (dS/m)

Table 20. Leaching requirement as related to the electrical conductivities

of irrigation and drainage water.

ECECww

( dSm( dSm-1-1 ) )

ECECee ( dSm ( dSm-1-1 ) )

4488121216162020

% ----------------------------- % ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.01.05.265.262.562.561.701.701.271.271.001.00

1.51.58.118.113.903.902.562.561.911.911.521.52

2.02.011.1111.115.265.263.453.452.562.562.042.04

2.52.514.2814.286.666.664.344.343.223.222.562.56

3.03.017.6417.648.118.115.265.263.903.903.093.09

4.04.025.0025.0011.1111.117.147.145.265.264.164.16

5.05.033.3333.3314.2814.289.099.096.666.665.265.26

Estimation Evapotranspiration

Estimating Crop ET

Estimating Reference Evapotranspiration (ETr)

Crop Coefficients

Deficit Irrigation

Table 22. Date Palm means yield for 1991-1994 as affected by different levels of water and water use efficiency under various irrigation methods and irrigation levels (adapted from Al-Amoud et al., 1999 )

IrrigationIrrigationMethodMethod

IrrigationIrrigationlevellevel

YieldYield( Kg /Tree )( Kg /Tree )

Water Water appliedapplied

( m( m3 3 /Tree )/Tree )

WUEWUE(Kg/m(Kg/m33))

BubblerBubbler

50% E50% E133.7133.71201201.141.14

100% E100% E154.5154.52202200.700.70

150% E150% E182.5182.53253250.560.56

BasinBasin

50% E50% E162.0162.01201201.351.35

100% E100% E178.0178.02202200.810.81

150% E150% E165.5165.53253250.510.51

TrickleTrickle

50% E50% E203.7203.71201201.701.70

100% E100% E191.7191.72202200.870.87

150% E150% E188.3188.33253250.580.58

Table 23. Consumption use of water in some regionof Saudi Arabia ( Al-Khatib et al., 2006 ).

RegionsRegions

mm33 h h-1-1

Irrigation SystemsIrrigation Systems

surfacesurfacebubblerbubblerdripdrip

RiyadhRiyadh343433434325046250462060220602

MakkahMakkah344513445125095250952066720667

MadenahMadenah433054330531545315452597825978

QaseemQaseem352043520425647256472112121121

EasternEastern347823478226120261202086520865

AseerAseer251072510718289182891506115061

TabukTabuk321573215723424234241929019290

HailHail352543525425680256802114821148

NorthernNorthern349763497625647256472112121121

NajranNajran288682886821028210281731717317

ABahaABaha251072510718289182891506115061

JoufJouf352043520425647256472112121121

Table 24. Comparison of yield, water consumption and water use efficiency for 17 year old date palm tree

SeasonSeason200020002001200120022002AverageAverage

Total Yield - kgTotal Yield - kg78737873125371253717003170031247112471

Average Yield - kgAverage Yield - kg75.575.5120.25120.25163.1163.1119.616119.616

77

Average Water Consumption - Average Water Consumption - mm33/tree/year/tree/year

86.486.486.086.0102.5102.591.633391.6333

33

Water Use Efficiency- Kg/rnWater Use Efficiency- Kg/rn330.870.871 .431 .431.591.590.820.82

Table 25. Water Use Efficiency for Date Palm tree (WUE Kg m-3) in some region

RegionsRegions

WUE Kg mWUE Kg m-3-3

Irrigation SystemsIrrigation Systems

surfacesurfacebubblerbubblerdripdrip

RiyadhRiyadh0.1770.1770.2420.2420.2940.294

MakkahMakkah0.2040.2040.2800.2800.3400.340

MadenahMadenah0.1220.1220.1680.1680.2030.203

QaseemQaseem0.1200.1200.1650.1650.2000.200

EasternEastern0.2940.2940.3920.3920.4900.490

AseerAseer0.3830.3830.5250.5250.6380.638

TabukTabuk0.2230.2230.3060.3060.3720.372

HailHail0.1680.1680.2310.2310.2800.280

NorthernNorthern0.1730.1730.2360.2360.2860.286

NajranNajran0.1700.1700.2340.2340.2840.284

BahaBaha0.1650.1650.2260.2260.2750.275

JoufJouf0.2520.2520.3460.3460.4210.421

Considerations and recommendations

•

Thank you

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