Role of Fertigation in Improving Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency in Date Palm Cultivation and Production

Abstract

Fertigation (the incorporation of fertilizers into irrigation water throughout the plant root zone) has recently been recognized as an important agronomic practice, particularly for date palm production. It increases the availability and uptake of water-soluble fertilizers, which are supplied directly into the root zone of plants. This review summarizes the advantages, approaches, and relationships of fertigation in date palm. This paper elaborates on the benefits, methodologies, and implementation horizon of date palm fertigation for sustainable agriculture. Here, we indicate that when combined with other decision-support and fertilization practices, fertigation can be instrumental in achieving maximum crop yield, improving water productivity (water savings), and minimizing the environmental impact of agricultural systems.