Study on the Effect of Climate Change on the Growth of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Through the Application of Water Stress

Abstract

The decline of most Morocco's palm groves, particularly those in the Marrakech region, has been directly caused by the arid and semi-arid climates witnessed in recent years. Due to severe drought and a decline in agricultural and forestry output, these groves are currently experiencing continuous degradation. The ability of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) to withstand water scarcity is greatly enhanced by the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). To investigate and assess the potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in Marrakech palm grove soils to improve the date palm's ability to handle water stress, eight locations were meticulously chosen and evaluated. Three gardens, three boulevards, and two palm groves made up these locations. The main objective was to Impose a water limit of 25% of field capacity (FC) greatly enhance the occurrence of natural mycorrhization (100%) by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in plants cultivated in the soils of the eight examined sites, as compared to the 50%, 75%, and 100% FC conditions.