A descriptive Study to Illustrate the Effect of Salinity on Small Palm Trees in the Al-Jufra Region

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of soil salinity on date palm offshoots in the Al-Jufra region, with a particular focus on the Al-Hamam Agricultural Project in the Sukna area. The study aimed to evaluate the chemical properties of the project's soil, determining salinity (EC), pH, and the concentrations of positive and negative ions, and assessing the suitability of these conditions for the cultivation and growth of date palm offshoots, which are more sensitive to salinity than mature trees.

The study employed a descriptive-analytical approach supported by fieldwork and laboratory analysis. Soil samples collected from nine different locations within the project area, encompassing both cultivated and fallow land. At each location, samples taken at two different depths (surface layer 0-30 cm and subsurface layer 30-60 cm). Laboratory analyses conducted to determine electrical conductivity, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and the concentrations of cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K) and anions (Cl, SO4, HCO3). The results showed that the soil in the study area characterized by mild to moderate alkalinity (pH between 7.13 and 8.45) and significant variation in electrical conductivity (EC) values, ranging from 1.03 to 107.91 dS/m, with 67% of the samples exceeding the permissible critical limits for agriculture. The results also indicated a high concentration of salts in the surface layer (0-30 cm), posing a direct threat to the roots of young seedlings. The analyses further revealed a clear predominance of sodium and chloride ions, classifying most of the soil as "saline-sodium," which leads to a deterioration of the soil's physical properties and hinders seedling growth.

The study concluded that the current conditions in large parts of the project area present a significant challenge to the successful cultivation of seedlings without intervention. Accordingly, the study recommended the need to implement reclamation programs that include soil washing, the use of amendments such as agricultural gypsum, and the transition to modern irrigation systems (drip irrigation) to reduce salt accumulation, and the selection of palm varieties with high tolerance in the early stages of growth.