Effects of planting pattern on major date palm pests and diseases injury severity

ABSTRACT: Agronomy methods are the most ancient recommended for date palm pests and diseases in sustainable agriculture because its application was reduced pesticide extended. This research was conducted to studying the effects of planting pattern of date palms on injury severity of major date palm pests and diseases including spider mite (Oligonychus afrasiaticus M), the lesser date moth (Batrachedra amydraula Myer), the bigger moth(Arenipses Sabella Hmpsn), termite (Microcerotermes diversus Silve.), the horned beetle (Oryctes elegans Prell), the long anntenal beetles (Pseudophilus testaceus Gab), white scale (Parlatoria blanchardi Targ), Khamedje disease (Mauginella scattae Cav) and leaf spot. Based experiment method was survey research. Sampling society divided to 30 plots (16 plots near rivers, 14 plots in plain, 19 plots in less than 5 m and 11 plot in 5-10 m planting distance plantation). One sample was selected randomly in each plot. Incidentally cluster-sampling methods and Macheak method were used for estimating of pests and diseases infestations. Result showed that the site selection affected the pests and diseases injury severity so that the injuries of spider mite, the lesser moth, the bigger moth, Khamedje and leaf spot in plantations around the river were more than in plain region. The cultivar diversity index had significantly negative correlation by palm spider mite, the lesser moth, the bigger moth, the long antennal beetles, Khamedje diseases and leaf spot so that their injuries severity were reduced by increasing cultivar biodiversity. The planting density affected pests and diseases injury severity so that the injuries of spider mite, termite, horn beetle, long antennal beetle, scale, Khamedje and leaf spot in planting distance less than 5 m was more than 5-10 m. Intercropping had significantly negative correlation with spider mite, the lesser moth, the bigger moth, white scale and leaf spot. All of planting pattern factors had significantly effect on date pests and diseases injury and they should be considered on integrated pest managements program.