FRUIT SETTING, MONTHLY RECORD OF FRUIT DROP, FRUIT WEIGHT AND ECONOMICAL YIELD OF DHAKKI AMONG SIX VARIETIES OF DATE PALM

To study the fruit setting, fruit drop and economical yield of six date palm varieties i.e Dhakki, Zahidi, Shakari, Gulistan, Khudrawi, and Basra, an experiment was conducted at Date palm Research Orchard Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan during March to August, 2009. On each female tree six spathes were selected and were pollinated with single male pollen source on 2nd day of spath opening. Parameters i.e fruit setting %, monthly fruit drop % (April to August); total fruit drop, fruit weight and economical yield were selected for the study. The results indicated that khudrawi produced highest fruit set (94.73%), while the Dhakki produced lowest fruit set (84.03%). The maximum fruit drop of 70.77% observed in Dhakki and minimum fruit drop of 9.28% was found in Zahidi. The maximum fruit drop (15.93%) was observed in month of July and minimum (0%) in the month of August. As far as yield is concerned, the economical yield in kg/tree was noted in Dhakki. It is concluded from the results that though it was recorded less fruit set, maximum fruit drop, but even then it has produced maximum yield of Dhakki (96.64 kg/tree) with less economic loss under the agro-climatic conditions of Dera Ismail Khan.