CROP MANAGEMENT OF DEGLET NOOR DATE PALM IN THE REGION OF OUARGLA

Abstract

The Deglet Noor dates in Ouargla region are of mediocre quality compared to those of Biskra and OuedRigh. Our study aims to provide a diagnosis on the situation of the crop management of Deglet Noor, in the Ouargla region.The methodological approach is to make surveys in12 farms, of4 stations: Ain Beida, Chott, N'Goussa and Hassi Ben Abdallah.The obtained results show that farmers, in the region of Ouargla, neglect the importance of achieving of some crop management for this variety, such as: fruit thinning and bunches bagging, while this variety is more demanding in terms of crop management. This situation leads to reduction of the quality of the dates of this variety and decrease their market value.Correlation analysis shows that the increasing of spacing, irrigation and the amount of applied organic fertilizers, have allowed to win early ripening of dates in Hassi Ben Abdallah station. While the low fertilization and high plant density generated a late maturing in farms of: Ain Beida, Chott and N'Goussa.The results of this investigation demonstrated the indispensability to draw adequate and effective strategy to sensitize farmers on the importance of the application of cultivation practices, with a view to improving the quality of Deglet Noor date in this region.