Tree characteristics, microhabitat and edge effect in plantations govern European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur nest habitat selection at the edge of Sahara: implications for conservation of a vulnerable species

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
NASRINE SAÂD ◽  
SAÂD HANANE ◽  
KAMILIA FARHI ◽  
NACERDDINE MATALLAH ◽  
MOHAMED DHAYA EL HAK KHEMIS

Summary Tree characteristics, microhabitat, and human presence were measured around nest trees (n = 92) and non-nest trees (n = 92) to identify the best predictors of the European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur nest occurrence in date palm plantations of the Biskra region (Algeria). Nest occurrence was (i) positively influenced by the height of trees and that of the herbaceous layer, and (ii) quadratically affected by diameter at breast height (DBH), the cover of trees, the cover of the herbaceous vegetation, and the distance to the edge of date palm plantation. Variation partitioning analysis revealed that the pure effect of tree physical characteristics (tree height and DBH) was robust in explaining the occurrence of Turtle Dove nests (adj. R2 = 0.52, P = 0.001). For an efficient management of this Saharan population, special attention should be paid in the short term to keeping high date palm trees while ensuring, in the medium and long term, the presence of different-sized palm tree classes at each exploitation. There is no doubt that date palm plantations of Biskra are of paramount importance because they offer good opportunities for consolidating and improving the knowledge on this threatened species and other species at the Sahara edge.

Author(s):  
Ahmad Salah Edeen Nassef ◽  
Kalifa Hamed AlMuqbali ◽  
Sheikha Mahmood Al Naqabi

This paper was studying the effects of palm tree wastes on the behavior of the concrete to reduce cement content in the concrete to ensure a sustainable environment. Both fibers of palm tree and the ash of palm tree leaves are used in this study considering different percentages of palm tree wastes, which are replaced the cement, to investigate both of workability and strength of the concrete. Also, the combination of palm tree leaves ash and fibers of palm trees is investigated. The slump and compression tests are carried out to evaluate both workability and concrete strength. The palm fibers were reducing the workability of concrete at both of different percentage of replacement and different fiber lengths. The slump is reduced by 26.667% at 2 cm fibers length and it is completely lost at 5 cm length fibers at the same percentage of replacement of 5% of the cement content. The palm fibers were weakening concrete compressive strength at different percentages and different fiber lengths. Palm leaves ash was enhancing concrete workability and concrete compressive strength.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Ismail Mansouri ◽  
Wafae Squalli ◽  
Abdelbari El Agy ◽  
Abderahim El-Hassani ◽  
Lahcen El Ghadraoui ◽  
...  

The European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur breeds in both farmlands and woodlands, and it is important to explore the difference in breeding ecology of this threatened game in these two ecosystem types. This study, carried out during four years (2015–2018), compares nesting features of this species and its breeding success between apple orchards and riparian vegetation in Midelt Province, Morocco. The main result revealed that the nest placement, including nesting-tree height and nest height, is similar between orchards and riparian trees. However, the nest dimensions (big and small diameters) were larger in orchards. Correlations were variable among nest placement parameters and dimensions. On the contrary, in four breeding seasons, where 566 nests were monitored (467 in orchards and 99 in riparian sites), the average breeding success was different (57% of chicks in apple farms and 53% in riparian vegetation). Moreover, in apple orchards, clutches’ failure is due to both predation (18.89% of eggs and 10.54% of chicks) and temperature lowering (5.03% of unhatched eggs and 5.49% of dead chicks), while in riparian vegetation, the loss is due to nest desertion (21.33% of clutches) and mostly predation (33.16% of clutches).


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-218
Author(s):  
Mohammed M. Alderawii ◽  
◽  
Aqeel A. Alyousuf ◽  
Samir A. Hasan ◽  
Jasim K. Mohammed ◽  
...  

The Red Palm Weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790) is a devastating invasive pest of palm trees, invading the Iraqi date palm tree in 2015 for the first time in Safwan county, Basrah province. The Red Palm weevil has been categorized as a quarantine pest of date palm trees worldwide. In this study, a five years monitoring program has been achieved by scouting the invasive pest RPW population in Safwan county by using visual sampling and Pheromone baited traps. The results indicated that the number of infested palms, increased from 12 trees in 2015 to 111 in 16 orchards in 2016. The number of the infested palms was minimized to 3 trees in the county in 2019 due to the management protocol of the Ministry of Agriculture. Furthermore, the results of RPW adults appeared monthly in the county with two activity peaks during the moderate-temperature-months. In conclusion, the quarantine and management protocol of RPW decreased the population of the invasive pest which did not spread to other districts of Iraq.


2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 657-664
Author(s):  
A. M. Tariq

This study was aimed to use pathogenicity of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) Rhabditis blumi Sudhaus (Nematoda: Rhabditida) against palm borer Arabian Rhinoceros Beetle (ARB), Oryctes agamemnon arabicus was evaluated in the lab. And date palm orchards during 2015 - 2017. In the lab tests, EPN was used against the larvae and adults as a direct spray and as treated food (pieces of fresh tissue of the frond bases) at a rate of 0, 500, 1000, 1500 Infective Juveniles (IJs) per mL of R. blumi. Results indicated that EPN caused 89%, 61% and 25%, 20% mortality when used as a direct spray and as treated food on larvae and adults of ARB, respectively. Results of field experiments showed that injection of 50 mL per palm tree with a concentration of 1500 IJs/mL of R. blumi inflected about 45.5% mortality in ARB larvae infesting the tree. Meanwhile, the Population density of ARB larvae reduced to 45.8%, 59.6% during the first and second year of treated date palm trees by injection method respectively. The results of this investigation illustrate the possibility of using EPN R. blumi as a biocontrol agent for managing borers in date palm orchards under field conditions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Ali Omar Al-Sulbi

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is one of the elegant trees that performs several landscaping functions. Its single trunk textured by bases of the cut leaves distinguishes it from other ornamental trees. This cylindrical textured trunk is one of the major attractive features emphasized the use of date palms as ornamental landscaping trees. Across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Date palms in public landscaping schemes have experienced deformation of their trunks. This is a function of several factors related to plantation, irrigation, and maintenance. This research to investigate and categorise the causes, types, and forms of date palm trees‘ trunks deformation. Prior to a field survey, a randomly conducted pilot survey to collect data from different areas where date palms are used as landscaping ornamental trees across the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA). It applies direct observation, measuring and analysis to develop preliminary understanding of the phenomena; and apply its outcomes on a case study of the Dammam City Seafront (DCS). The result showed that date palm trees‘ trunks deformation has occurred at bottom, middle, and upper parts as results of several factors; and it is as high as almost 97% among investigated trees. However, 58% of deformation symptoms processes have been noticed on bottom third of the date palm trees‘ trunks, near soil surface; and 27.5% of them are in the King Abdullah Seafront Park (KASP). The study proves statistically that sprinkler and bubbler irrigation systems are of major responsibility for near ground deformation of palm trees‘ trunks, which expands at rate of 3.5 and 3.3 CM/Year.


2021 ◽  
Vol 904 (1) ◽  
pp. 012065
Author(s):  
H J Murad ◽  
A F Al-Dulaimy

Abstract The following study was conducted in a private date palm orchard in the area of AlFurat, district of Heet throughout the season of 2019-2020 on 20-year-old date palm trees, Zahdi cultivar. The purpose was to study the effects of spraying the Urea compound with concentrations of (0, 1 and 2 g L-1) as well as seaweed extract (Tecamin Algae) with (0, 2 and 4 g L-1) of concentration on the growth and chemical content of the trees. 27 date palms were randomly selected. A factorial experiment with RCBD design was carried out such that it includes 9 treatments with 3 replicas for each treatment. Each tree was treated as one experimental unit. The results demonstrated that treatments of Urea spraying, especially with 2 g L-1 concentration, contributed to achieving the best results for response measurements (Leaf Area, Total Chlorophyll, Total Carbohydrates in the Leaflets, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous), which were (2.61 m2, 10.65 mg g-1, 7.46%, 1.69% and 0.40%), respectively. The content of phosphorous in the leaflets was not significantly affected when sprayed with Urea. On the other hand, seaweed extract spraying had a significant effect on all the response measurements. The 4 ml L-1 concentration gave the highest figures for our responses (total chlorophyll 10.38 mg g-1, Carbohydrates 7.52%, Nitrogen 1.65%, Phosphorus 0.37% and Potassium 0.67%). The concentration of (2 ml L-1) gave the largest area of the leaf at 2.63 m2.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Ali Omar Al-Sulbi

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is one of the elegant trees that performs several landscaping functions. Its single trunk textured by bases of the cut leaves distinguishes it from other ornamental trees. This cylindrical textured trunk is one of the major attractive features emphasized the use of date palms as ornamental landscaping trees. Across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Date palms in public landscaping schemes have experienced deformation of their trunks. This is a function of several factors related to plantation, irrigation, and maintenance. This research to investigate and categorise the causes, types, and forms of date palm trees‘ trunks deformation. Prior to a field survey, a randomly conducted pilot survey to collect data from different areas where date palms are used as landscaping ornamental trees across the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA). It applies direct observation, measuring and analysis to develop preliminary understanding of the phenomena; and apply its outcomes on a case study of the Dammam City Seafront (DCS). The result showed that date palm trees‘ trunks deformation has occurred at bottom, middle, and upper parts as results of several factors; and it is as high as almost 97% among investigated trees. However, 58% of deformation symptoms processes have been noticed on bottom third of the date palm trees‘ trunks, near soil surface; and 27.5% of them are in the King Abdullah Seafront Park (KASP). The study proves statistically that sprinkler and bubbler irrigation systems are of major responsibility for near ground deformation of palm trees‘ trunks, which expands at rate of 3.5 and 3.3 CM/Year.


Agriculture ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
El-Sayed H. E. Ziedan ◽  
Mohamed Hashem ◽  
Yasser S. Mostafa ◽  
Saad Alamri

Red palm weevil (RPW) is a dangerous pest that infects the date palm tree and makes tunnels in the tree’s trunk. RPW infection is followed by secondary invaders of microorganisms that cause degradation of the trunk tissues leading to toppling the crown and death of the tree in a short time. This study showed that Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. was the common fungal species isolated from the root and trunk tissues of the date trees infested with RPW, which recorded 100% of frequency. Pathogenicity of 4 isolates of F. oxysporum was confirmed on date palm seeds and seedlings. The results confirmed that all isolates involved in rot of the germinated seeds (40–100% incidence), root rot, and death of palm seedlings (20–100%) under artificial infection as well as degradation of date palm petioles. Application of 20 L/palm of systemic fungicide (Topsin) at 1% as foliar and soil drench of date palm for successive three times successfully reduced development of the deterioration and suppressed the growth of F. oxysporum. Interestingly this fungicide did not suppress the growth of Trichoderma viride Pers. So, our results recommend this fungicide to suppress the pathological and degradable activities of F. oxysporum during the integrated pest management of RPW on date palm trees.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Vohra ◽  
Mohammad Al-Suwaiyan ◽  
Minaam Hussaini

Activated carbon that has been widely used for several environmental applications is typically produced from carbon-based raw materials including agricultural by-products. To that end, extensive date palm-tree farming across the globe with millions of palm trees, also results in various types of agricultural waste including date palm-tree branches (DPB) during the regular trimming phase of palm-trees. Furthermore, air pollution also remains a serious concern in many global regions, requiring the application of appropriate treatment technologies to mitigate the respective negative effects on human health and environment. The present study thus assessed the efficiency of activated carbon (AC) derived from date palm-tree branches to treat gaseous toluene (C6H5CH3) streams under varying dynamic flow conditions. The produced activated carbon showed BET specific surface area (SSABET) of 800.87 m2/g with micro and mesoporous structure. The AC FTIR results indicated several surface groups including oxygen based functional groups. Furthermore, the dynamic gas treatment results showed that the respective activated carbon can successfully treat gaseous toluene under varying gas flow rates, gas concentrations and activated carbon bed depths. An increase in the carbon bed depth and decrease in toluene gas concentration and/or flow rate, yielded higher breakthrough time (BT) and exhaustion time (ET) values. Adsorption modeling employing the response surface methodology (RSM) approach successfully modeled the respective gaseous toluene removal experimental findings, with breakthrough time (BT) and exhaustion time (ET) as the response factors. The respective model-fitting parameters showed good outcomes using natural logarithmic transform model.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rami Al-Ruzouq ◽  
Abdallah Shanableh ◽  
Mohamed Barakat A. Gibril ◽  
Saeed AL-Mansoori

Accurate mapping of date palm trees is essential for their sustainable management, yield estimation, and environmental studies. In this study, we integrated geographic object-based image analysis, class-specific accuracy measures, fractional factorial design, metaheuristic feature-selection technique, and rule-based classification to detect and map date palm trees from very-high-spatial-resolution (VHSR) aerial images of two study areas. First, multiresolution segmentation was optimized through the synergy of the F1-score accuracy measure and the robust Taguchi design. Second, ant colony optimization (ACO) was adopted to select the most significant features. Out of 31 features, only 12 significant color invariants and textural features were selected. Third, based on the selected features, the rule-based classification with the aid of a decision tree algorithm was applied to extract date palm trees. The proposed methodology was developed on a subset of the first study area, and ultimately applied to the second study area to investigate its efficiency and transferability. To evaluate the proposed classification scheme, various supervised object-based algorithms, namely random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), were applied to the first study area. The result of image segmentation optimization demonstrated that segmentation optimization based on an integrated F1-score class-specific accuracy measure and Taguchi statistical design showed improvement compared with objective function, along with the Taguchi design. Moreover, the result of the feature selection by ACO outperformed, with almost 88% overall accuracy, several feature-selection techniques, such as chi-square, correlation-based feature selection, gain ratio, information gain, support vector machine, and principal component analysis. The integrated framework for palm tree detection outperformed RF, SVM, and k-NN classification algorithms with an overall accuracy of 91.88% and 87.03%, date palm class-specific accuracies of 0.91 and 0.89, and kappa coefficients of 0.90 and 0.85 for the first and second study areas, respectively. The proposed integrated methodology demonstrated a highly efficient and promising tool to detect and map date palm trees from VHSR aerial images.


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