Abstract

Date palms are a crucial crop in Qatar and the Arabian Gulf, providing essential resources such as food and economic benefits. This study explores how organic fertilizers impact soil health and the growth of two date palm varieties, ‘Shishi’ and ‘Nabit Saif,’ specifically focusing on nutrient levels like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). While organic fertilizers are known to improve soil quality, there has been little research on their effects in date palm cultivation. Over nine months in a greenhouse, different treatments like compost tea, humic acid, and bio-fertilizers were applied. The results showed that organic fertilizers significantly increased nitrogen levels, particularly in the T5 treatment, where levels reached 0.07%. ‘Nabit Saif’ absorbed more nitrogen than ‘Shishi,’ showing 0.06% uptake compared to 0.04%. However, phosphorus and potassium levels were similar across treatments. These findings highlight organic fertilizers' role in enhancing soil fertility and promoting sustainable agriculture, especially in regions like Qatar. Further research is needed to explore long-term impacts and improve fertilization strategies for date palm farming.

Key words: Organic nutrients, humic acid, compost tea, bio-fertilizer, tissue culture, Phoenix dactylifera L.