What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate how various mulching regimes modulate date palm phenological stages, growth metrics, and phase-specific thermal requirements across contrasting climate seasons.

March 1, 2026Scientia HorticulturaeOpen Access

Microclimate mulching modifies date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) phenology and thermal requirements under seasonal climate variability

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Authors

SUSafi UwaseNational Agricultural Research Institute ASAhmed SabriNational Agricultural Research Institute MJMustapha El JanatiInstitut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II

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Implication

Field experiment demonstrates microclimate mulching modulates flowering phenology and thermal demands in date palms, highlighting a phase-targeted management tool for arid climates.

Key Points

To evaluate how various mulching regimes modulate date palm phenological stages, growth metrics, and phase-specific thermal requirements across contrasting climate seasons.
Evaluated four mulching regimes across two seasons (2024 and 2025) in Morocco: no mulch (NM), shredded date palm fronds (SDPF), black polyethylene plus SDPF (PP+SDPF), and black polypropylene woven ground cover plus SDPF (PWGC+SDPF).
Conducted daily field monitoring to track spathe phenological phases (dormancy break to emergence, emergence to opening, and opening to pollination), base temperature, and growing degree days (GDD).
In the warmer 2024 season, PP+SDPF advanced spathe onset by 4.6 days and reduced Phase A GDD requirements by approximately 37% relative to control conditions.
In 2025, cooler weather attenuated mulch effects; tree-level total GDD for PP+SDPF was 581 °Cdays (compared to 766 °Cdays in 2024), whereas PWGC+SDPF provided the most stable phenological performance.
Daily spathe production and growth metrics improved under mulching, while growth efficiency per GDD remained comparable across treatments.

Cite This Study

Uwase et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a7e300f37c44f9ef44f97f4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114796

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Implication

Field experiment demonstrates microclimate mulching modulates flowering phenology and thermal demands in date palms, highlighting a phase-targeted management tool for arid climates.

Microclimate mulching modifies date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) phenology and thermal requirements under seasonal climate variability

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Microclimate mulching modifies date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) phenology and thermal requirements under seasonal climate variability

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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