COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MECHANICAL AND HAND POLLINATION ON CERTAIN OMANI DATE PALM CULTIVARS

This study was carried out at the Wadi Quriyat Date Palm Research Station, and Tanuf farm, Bahla Governorate, Sultanate of Oman for comparing mechanical and hand pollination methods. The experiment was conducted on five female date palm cultivars i.e., ‘Khalas Aldahra’, ‘Gibri’, ‘Hilali’, ‘Zabad’ and ‘Fard’ for three seasons 2002, 2003,and 2004. Three other cultivars; ‘Khalas Oman’, ‘Khandesi’ and ‘Khasab’ were studied in 2003 and 2004. The results of two pollination methods, hand and mechanical, showed no significant differences in fruit set percentage for all cultivars under study at the Wadi Quriyat Date Palm Station and Tanuf farm. Moreover, the data indicated no statistical differences in the yield produced by either mechanical or hand pollination at both experimental sites.
In conclusion, since the quantity of pollen grains used is lower and less labor is required in mechanical pollination, it is a more economical method compared with hand pollination.