IRAQI JOURNAL OF DESERT STUDIES

Abstract

Study was conducted in the western desert (south east of Al-Ramadi city) to shed light on drought tolerance,
twelve of a number of already establishment field of Phoenix dactilyfera L. ( Zahde) trees which are used in this
study. Through out the best 8 years half of the trees was being irrigated regularly while the other half irrigation
was stopped two years period to the start of the experiment and contained to the end of it. Measurements on the
leaf water potential and water loss were taken during the day hours (from dawn to sunset) for several days.
Seasonal diurnal changes in total carbohydrates and other phenotypic characteristics, N and K percentage were
recorded. Dunces Multiple Range was used to separate the means at 0.5% probabilities. Changes in water
potential values, water loss, total carbohydrates, N and K percentage depended largely on irrigation vs. nonirrigation
and seasons, beside the nutrient elements were in low level in summer specially in leaflets of nonirrigation
date palms