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<p>The arid and semi-arid regions of the world have minimal water resources. Therefore, it is necessary to use technical and managerial methods to reduce agricultural water consumption. In this study, the effects of mulch treatments on ‘Zahedi’ date palm seedlings were assessed. Five treatments—non-mulch (control), clear plastic mulch, black plastic mulch, date palm leaf mulch, and sawdust mulch—in three replications were performed in a&#xa0;randomized complete block design. The results indicated the different mulches decreased the yearly crop evapotranspiration by 55.5% compared with the control treatment. All mulch treatments improved leaf number and length, leaflet number, trunk circumference, wet and dry weights of shoots, and wet and dry weights of roots compared to the control treatment. Black plastic mulch significantly increased the wet and dry weight of shoots by about 128% and 143%, respectively, compared to the control treatment. There were no significant differences between black plastic mulch and palm leaf and sawdust mulches. Analysis of the efficiency indices including water use efficiency (WUE), relative growth efficiency (RGE), evapotranspiration reduction efficiency (ERE), and cumulative biomass index (CBI) showed the clear and black plastic mulches had the highest WUE and ERE, while the organic mulches such as date palm leaf and sawdust exhibited significant growth efficiency, reinforcing their role in improving plant vegetative traits. Economic analysis was integrated to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of each mulch type in agricultural practices. Finally, date palm leaf mulch is recommended for date palm plantations because it is available in date palm plantations and is a&#xa0;cheap input, compared to black plastic mulch, with similar efficiency.</p>

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Effect of Mulch on Water Requirements of Date Palm Seedlings and Its Economic and Environmental Assessment

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月24日

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  • Majid Alihouri,
  • Masoud Latifian

摘要

The arid and semi-arid regions of the world have minimal water resources. Therefore, it is necessary to use technical and managerial methods to reduce agricultural water consumption. In this study, the effects of mulch treatments on ‘Zahedi’ date palm seedlings were assessed. Five treatments—non-mulch (control), clear plastic mulch, black plastic mulch, date palm leaf mulch, and sawdust mulch—in three replications were performed in a randomized complete block design. The results indicated the different mulches decreased the yearly crop evapotranspiration by 55.5% compared with the control treatment. All mulch treatments improved leaf number and length, leaflet number, trunk circumference, wet and dry weights of shoots, and wet and dry weights of roots compared to the control treatment. Black plastic mulch significantly increased the wet and dry weight of shoots by about 128% and 143%, respectively, compared to the control treatment. There were no significant differences between black plastic mulch and palm leaf and sawdust mulches. Analysis of the efficiency indices including water use efficiency (WUE), relative growth efficiency (RGE), evapotranspiration reduction efficiency (ERE), and cumulative biomass index (CBI) showed the clear and black plastic mulches had the highest WUE and ERE, while the organic mulches such as date palm leaf and sawdust exhibited significant growth efficiency, reinforcing their role in improving plant vegetative traits. Economic analysis was integrated to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of each mulch type in agricultural practices. Finally, date palm leaf mulch is recommended for date palm plantations because it is available in date palm plantations and is a cheap input, compared to black plastic mulch, with similar efficiency.