*6.3.1 Organic fertilization and irrigation (soil condition)*

Management of irrigation to avoid conditions that are congenial to the development of pests and diseases (e.g., red palm weevil) is an important soil conditioning practice in organic farming. Another important practice is maintaining soil health and nutrients to increase palm immunity against pests' attack, such as the longhorn beetle, which is known to inflict serious damage on weak unattended undernourished date palms. Healthy palms with balanced nutrients and irrigation withstand attack by this opportunistic insect pest. High humidity, which is conducive to the buildup of Dubas, is expected to prevail in densely planted orchards. High soil moisture (flood irrigation and basin irrigation) increases the infestation by the red palm weevil in date palm groves [32]. Care has to be taken when applying organic manure to newly transplanted date palm offshoots, because it may contain eggs and different stages of the rhinoceros beetles, which are considered serious pests of date palm. However, the organic manure can be disinfested from these grubs

#### **Figure 4.**

*Solar light trap (top left), pheromone-baited trap (top right), adult borers collected by the light trap (bottom right), and adult of red palm weevils mass trapped through pheromone trap (bottom right).*

and other insect pests using physical methods or chemicals permitted in organic farming system. In this respect, the farm wastes including eradicated palms can be pulverized and used for production of compost (**Figure 5**). Organic fertilizers are added to date palm during the end of October–December. This is to promote date palm growth and increase its immunity against pests and diseases. About 5–50 kg of organic fertilizer is required per palm, depending on age.

### *6.3.2 Palm spacing*

Well-spaced date palms (8 × 8 m) have no problem of dub bug insect which represents a real problem in narrowly spaced plantations [33]. Densely spaced palms facilitate the spread of crawling mites and scale insects from one palm to another. Sallam et al. [32] reported high incidence of red palm weevil infestation in closely spaced date palms. He attributed the high infestation to the high in-grove humidity caused by densely planted farms.

### *6.3.3 Pruning of date palm*

Pruning is the most important practice that contributes significantly in management of pests and diseases, and it includes the removal of old dry fronds (leaves),

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*Insect Pest Management in Organic Farming System DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84483*

advantages of frond pruning are listed below:

chance of palm survival.

**Figure 5.**

*ferrugineus.*

7 years old or above.

a.Facilitates climbing of the date palm by the farmers.

discourage hiding and oviposition by trunk borers.

sive heat as well as from cold during winter.

offshoots, aerial offshoots, fibers, and spines (**Figure 6**). Frond removal has two parts: cutting of fronds from the lower whorls of the canopy (Tagleem) and cutting the rachis base (petioles) 1–2 years after frond cutting (Takreeb) [34, 35]. The

*Shredding machine for pulverizing date palms severely infested by the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus* 

b.Reduces fire hazards in date palm plantations, particularly during dry seasons.

d.Reduces transpiration rate of newly transplanted palms and hence increases the

e.Reduces hiding places for unwanted arthropods such as cockroaches, scorpions and non-arthropods such as snail, slugs, as well as vertebrate pests (birds and rats)

The following precautions are recommended to be taken during pruning process:

b.Curry out pruning during December–January, when temperatures are low to avoid infestation by the red palm weevil where activity of the weevils is at the lowest level.

c.Treatment of wounds and pruned surfaces immediately with bee wax or any other substance allowed in organic farming to obscure the kairomones (odor emitted by the palm) which attract the red palm weevil and other palm pests.

d.Avoidance of palm overpruning as fronds protects the palm's heart from exces-

f. Facilitates handpicking of large-sized grubs and adults of trunk borers.

a.Prune only fronds after 3–7 years (old dry fronds) on only palms that are

c.Improves aeration around the palm trunk and thus reduces humidity and

*Multifunctionality and Impacts of Organic and Conventional Agriculture*

and other insect pests using physical methods or chemicals permitted in organic farming system. In this respect, the farm wastes including eradicated palms can be pulverized and used for production of compost (**Figure 5**). Organic fertilizers are added to date palm during the end of October–December. This is to promote date palm growth and increase its immunity against pests and diseases. About 5–50 kg of

*right), and adult of red palm weevils mass trapped through pheromone trap (bottom right).*

*Solar light trap (top left), pheromone-baited trap (top right), adult borers collected by the light trap (bottom* 

Well-spaced date palms (8 × 8 m) have no problem of dub bug insect which represents a real problem in narrowly spaced plantations [33]. Densely spaced palms facilitate the spread of crawling mites and scale insects from one palm to another. Sallam et al. [32] reported high incidence of red palm weevil infestation in closely spaced date palms. He attributed the high infestation to the high in-grove humidity

Pruning is the most important practice that contributes significantly in management of pests and diseases, and it includes the removal of old dry fronds (leaves),

organic fertilizer is required per palm, depending on age.

**146**

*6.3.2 Palm spacing*

**Figure 4.**

caused by densely planted farms.

*6.3.3 Pruning of date palm*

**Figure 5.** *Shredding machine for pulverizing date palms severely infested by the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.*

offshoots, aerial offshoots, fibers, and spines (**Figure 6**). Frond removal has two parts: cutting of fronds from the lower whorls of the canopy (Tagleem) and cutting the rachis base (petioles) 1–2 years after frond cutting (Takreeb) [34, 35]. The advantages of frond pruning are listed below:


It has been stated that tillage practices and leaf pruning had the greatest effect in reducing termite, long antennae, and horned beetles, respectively. On the other hand, sucker removal operations had the greatest effect in reducing the severity of injuries of horned and long antennae beetles in date palm trees [15]. In addition, larvae of long antennae beetles can complete overwintering in the petioles of damaged leaves. Therefore, pruning the dry, damaged, and old leaves can reduce the severity of injuries of borer pests. Termites attack the dry and damaged parts of date palm tree, so pruning the petiole is very effective in reducing nutrient availability, population growth, and severity of injury [15].
