Date palm is susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, but trimming, intercropping and weeding can help prevent them.
Trimming is one of the basic operations, that prevents insects from laying their eggs on the frowns of date palm and also simplifies the process of climbing. This is done using a special sickle during spring when the plants are moist making the process easy to do.
Intercropping
Intercropping of debt palm with specific vegetables helps attract the natural enemies (insects) of date palm pests which also eats their eggs. The debris from the intercropped vegetables can be mixed with the soil to increase on soil fertility.
Weed below and around the palm trees to remove weeds. These cause a negative impact on production by harbouring pests and diseases, competing for water and nutrients and also increase on humidity causing fungal growth.
Carrying out these practices can lead to increase in in production, quality, fruit size and accelerates crop maturity hence increase in economic returns. They also reduce on chemical pest control.
