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Essay on Date-Palm
Essay Contents:
- Essay on the Origin and History of Date-Palm
- Essay on the Area and Production of Date-Palm
- Essay on the Importance and Uses of Date-Palm
- Essay on the Choice of Varieties of Date-Palm
- Essay on the Insect-Pests of Date-Palm
- Essay on the Diseases seen in Date-Palm
Essay # 1. Origin and History of Date-Palm:
The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is considered to be the oldest among the cultivated tree fruits. It is a prominent tree of desert Oasis. Date palm is considered a symbol of life in desert because it tolerates high temperature, drought, and salinity more than many other fruit plants.
Date palm is believed to be indigenous to countries around the Persian gulf of the Middle East where it has been cultivated for atleast 6000 years. The dates were already commercially grown and appreciated by people in Mesopotamia (Southern Iraq) as far back as 3000 B.C.
It has been under cultivation in Egypt since the prehistoric days. On the basis of Mohenjo-Daro excavations, the date palm was cultivated in Indo-Pakistan as early as 2000 B.C. In the Old World, the date growing areas stretched from Indus valley in the East to Tunisia.
The date land in Southwards fall up to Sudan, then follow the coasts of the Red sea and Gulf of Aden, northern part of Somalia and Southern Coast of Arabia. In Western hemisphere, the date palm was introduced in the late 18th or early 19th century by the Spanish missionaries. The principal date growing countries in the world are Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE and Pakistan. The other major date growing countries are Algeria, Iraq, Sudan, Oman, Libya and Tunisia.
Essay # 2. Area and Production of Date-Palm:
Date palm is grown in more than 40 countries. The annual world production of dates is around 7.52 million tonnes out of 1.15 million hectares area. Arab countries produce 5.4 million tonnes annually and possess 70 percent of the world date palm production. Pakistan is the fifth largest dates producing country having production of 6.2 lakh tonnes which is 9 percent of the total world production of dates.
In India, date palm is cultivated commercially in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Efforts are made to grow date palm in Haryana and Punjab. It is estimated that total population of date palm trees in India is approx 105 million trees covering an area of 80000 hectares.
At present India is importing Chhuharas (dry dates) and Khajoor (Soft dates). To meet the need of this fruit, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research sanctioned a Coordinated Scheme for the Improvement of Date palm in 1955 at Abohar. This place was considered to provide congenial conditions for date cultivation due to scanty rainfall (23-30 cm) with sufficient canal irrigation facilities.
During 1958, a good number of suckers of twenty cultivated varieties from the USA were brought at Abohar station. In addition, 30 other varieties were procured from Muscat, Egypt, Aden, West Pakistan and from within the country up to 1961-62.
Since then, research on different aspects of date growing has been continuing at Abohar and good progress has been made on propagation and curing of fruits. To further step up the work on date, ICAR has sanctioned another scheme during 1976 for Abohar (Punjab), Jodhpur and Chandanwal (Rajasthan) and Kheebi (Gujarat). Later on, a research scheme on date palm was also introduced at Bikaner (Rajasthan).
Presently date palm is cultivated in coastal Saureshtra, i.e. Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, north Gujarat; Jaisalmer ‘Barmer, Bikaner’ Nagaur, Jodhpur, Churu and Sri Ganganagar districts of Rajasthan, Hisar in Haryana and Abohar in Punjab. In Kutch, approx. 14 lakhs heterogeneous date palm trees are spread over about 12500 hectares yielding about 85500 tonnes of fresh fruit annually.
Essay # 3. Importance and Uses of Date-Palm:
The date palm is highly nutritious delicious and is known to contain mostly sugars. The flesh of fully ripe date (tamar) consists of 75-80 per cent sugars (Glucose and fructose). The fresh dates (Khalal) with 20% moisture contain 60-65% sugars, 2.5% fibre, 2.0% protein, 2.0% fat and 2.0% minerals like iron, calcium, potassium and moderate quantity of chlorine, copper, magnesium and sulphur. In this way it furnishes 3000 calories of energy per kg. It also contains small amount of vitamin A, B1 and B2. The fruit is also a good source of nicotinic acid.
Date palm provide food, shelter and timber products. All parts of the palm can be used for various purposes. Different products are prepared from dates in Iraq. Liquor known as arak, alcohol, vinegar, liquid sugars, dibbis (date juice) and a concentrate protein for poultry birds from date stones are generally prepared.
In California, the products for use in breakfast and for bakery purpose are prepared with special reference to date paste and sugar. For the manufacturing of paper, the leaves of date palm have special significance.
Essay # 4. Choice of Varieties of Date-Palm:
Date palm varieties are generally divided into 3 groups on the basis of flesh consistency i.e. soft, semi dry and dry. Soft dates are those which pass through doka (Rutab) stage and remain soft when they reach pind (Tamar) stage. These dates are mostly of the reducing sugar type.
Semi-dry dates are those varieties which pass through a rutab stage but make a dryish tamar. The sugar is generally of reducing type. Most dates are this type. Dry dates are those varieties which do not pass through a rutab stage. They are mostly of sucrose type.
During 1956 to 1962 at Abohar (Punjab) about 50 varieties were collected indigenously and from the USA, Egypt, Pakistan, Muscat and Aden. As a result of assessment of the performance of these varieties done so far, Hillawi, Barhee and Hayani are considered good as raw-eating dates. Medjool, Hillawi, Zaidi, Khadrawi and Shamran are suitable for making Chhuhara. Khadrawi, Hillawi and Shamran also yield good quality soft dates.
The brief description of these varieties is given below:
i. Hillawi:
It is soft date from Iraq. This variety is relished both in doka and dang stages. Total soluble solids range between 28 to 42% and astringency in the fruit at doka stage is low or almost absent. It is an early variety yielding good crops and is somewhat more tolerant to rains. Dry dates (Chhuhara) of good quality and cured soft dates (Khajoor) can be prepared. Its fruit at dang stage (fresh form) is very delicious. Average yield ranges from 50 to 80 kg per palm.
ii. Khadrawi:
It also originated from Iraq. This variety proved successful under Abohar conditions. The trees of this variety are comparatively less tall and yield good crops. It can be used both for dry dates and soft dates. The yield ranges from 40 to 70 kg per palm.
iii. Shamran:
It is a mid-season cultivar tolerant to high humidity. The variety yield prolific crops. The fruits can be cured into good quality Chhuhara and also softened with salt treatment. Fruit is medium to large, oblong to oblong-oval and yellow at doka stage. Its yield per palm is 40 to 70 kg.
iv. Medjool:
The variety originated in Morocco and has large size fruits. It is late in ripening and has proved particularly good in preparing dry dates of attractive bold size and good quality. Its yield is 35 to 50 kg per palm.
v. Barhee:
It is soft date from Iraq. The variety has proved extremely good for table use in the fresh form (doka stage). The doka fruit contains about 32% TSS, has golden yellow colour and has a very pleasant taste because of low astringency and high pulp content. The trees of this variety are prolific in yields and the fruit is ready for eating late in the season i.e., first fortnight of August at Abohar. Its yield ranges from 60 to 110 per palm.
vi. Hayani:
It is soft date originated from the UAR. The berries have attractive deep colour. The fruits could be consumed as fresh in the doka stage as ripening does not proceed further under Abohar conditions. The yield per palm ranges from 30-40 kg.
vii. Zaidi:
It is a mid-season variety, slightly tolerant to rain or high humidity. The fruit is small to medium, obovate and yellow at doka stage.
viii. Khalas:
It is a mid-season variety. The fruit is small to medium in size, oblong oval, yellow and sweet at doka stage. The variety is suitable for processing as soft dates and for table purpose.
Essay # 5. Insect-Pests of Date-Palm:
The most important pests of dates are follows:
(i) Date Stone Weevil (Coccotrypes Dactyliperda F.):
It attacks unripe fruits and the adult penetrates the fruit and reaches the stone by constructing a direct circular hole through the pulp and both adults and grubs feed inside on the pulp and results in the drop of unripe fruit. Hillawi and Khadrawi, which ripen early, are more susceptible to this pest. Spraying the plants with 0.075 per cent Malathion has proved effective for its control.
(ii) Nitiduled Beetle (Haptoncus Luteolus Eri):
The larvae penetrate the fruit and eat the inner portion of the pulp. Their attack is followed by fungal decay. The adult is brownish yellow, oval, slightly oblong, 2.3 ± 0.13 mm long and 1.16 ± 0.21 mm broad. Initially, the dropped fruits are attacked.
Then the pest spread to fruit bunches on the tree and cause the fruit to drop. The pest over winters is pupae in the soil. Spraying with Malathion (0.075 per cent) gave satisfactory results. Regular removal of dropped fruits and their destruction also helps in minimising the effect.
(iii) Date Palm Scale (Parlatoria Blanchardi Targ):
The scale affected leaves first show a yellow discoloration around areas of sucking activity followed by brown necroses. In severe incidence, fruits are also affected. The pest can be controlled by spraying 500 ml of malathion 50 EC or 375 ml dimethoate in 250 litres of water per ha.
(iv) Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes Rhinoceros L):
The beetles throw out a fibrous mass while feeding in the burrows made in young fronds. The injury is seen as a series of holes on the fronds when they open out. Due to its attack top leaves wither and drop. Treat the breeding places with 2 kg of carbaryl 50 WP in 250 litres of water per ha.
(v) Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus Olivier):
The larvae feed on the soft tissue of trees and often cause very severe damage especially when a large number of them bore into the soft growing parts. The weevil is attracted to the trees by the smell of palm juice, which flows as a result of the wounds by man or other agents. Inject emulsion of dimethoate 30 EC @ 400 ml or carbaryl 50 WP @ 250 g in 25 litres of water into the live holes and plaster them with mud after application of chemicals.
(vi) Termites (Odontotermes Obesus Rambur):
They feed on the roots of the newly transplanted suckers which may ultimately cause them to wither and die. As a preventive measure, chlorpyrphos 20 EC mixed in each pit @ 10 ml in 2 kg soil before planting is recommended.
Essay # 6. Diseases seen in Date-Palm:
(i) Graphiola Leaf Spot (Graphiola Phoenicis):
It is also called as false smut or palm leaf pustule. It is a serious disease. This disease is more acute in the areas where humidity is more. Numerous hard black smuts like pustules are seen scattered developing epidermally on the upper and lower surfaces of leaflets and also on rachis. The pustules at maturity consist of round, hard; black cups about 0.50 x 0.25 mm.
These cups contain yellow spores. Older leaves are more affected; they lose their chlorophyll and dry up. For its control, remove and burn the affected leaves to check further contamination and spray the trees with 2: 2: 250 Bordeaux mixture (2 kg copper sulphate + 2 kg unslaked lime mixed in 250 litres of water).
(ii) Fruit Rot:
It often causes considerable loss when humid weather occurs during the ripening season. Under such conditions, various funguses may develop in the fruit and cause spotting, dropping and rotting. The damage may be reduced by better ventilation of the branches and protecting the fruit from rain. In addition, spray the bunches with a mixture of 5 per cent fahana (ferlic dimethyl dithiocarbamate) in sulphur.)