Adding manure and green waste to the date palm

Case studies - Centre National d'Agroécologie - Urbane - Ali Bouskri

Mixed farming and livestock Mixed farming and livestockManure Fertility management Crushed material

Morocco

5.5

4.5

60% Loam; 40% sandy

Mixed farming and livestock

Date palm

Wheat

Barley

Onion

Tomato

Cabbage

Broad bean

Corn

Pumpkin

Carrot

Olive tree

Potatoes

The strategic priority is given to the date palm, the most economically profitable crop for the farmer.

With this in mind, he seeks to maximize his production by optimizing cultural practices and conducting several trials on manure inputs.

Farm context:

Errachidia Province, Tinjedad Commune

Area and crops

Land distribution

• Date palm: 2.5 ha (recently planted, first harvests in 5-6 years)
• Market gardening, fodder and cereals: 2.5 ha
• Olive trees: 0.5 ha (500 trees)

Labor

• Permanent: 4 workers
• Temporary for harvest: Initially 102 days of paid work at 100 MAD/day (i.e. 10,200 MAD). Then the use of a manual harvester and a brush cutter reduced this to 39 days (i.e. 3,900 MAD).

Water resource and irrigation

• Wells: 10, of which 7 abandoned. The last 3 wells reach 125 meters deep (the first were at 70 m)
• Irrigation: each well is equipped with a solar pump and has a storage basin. Drip irrigation system on date palms and crops between rows in the palm grove.

History

• Ali Bouskri did not study formally: he started farming in 1989 as a family management in co-ownership with his brother with whom he bought his first land by saving. In 2013 he took over alone a new farm
• The farm previously had a flock of 40 ewes and 2 cows for self-consumption. Due to drought, the entire herd was sold. The farmer does not intend to restart livestock farming, his priority now being focused on date palm cultivation.

Implemented steps

Fertilization of the Date Palm

1. Manure supply
   • Purchase of bovine or ovine manure outside the farm.
   • Quantities: 100 kg per adult palm and 25 kg per young palm.
2. Preparation of compost
   • Composition: about 30% manure + 48% crushed palm leaves + 22% water (see this scientific article).
   • Target temperature during composting is 70 °C to ensure maturity; it takes about 1 month to reach this temperature, and the compost matures after about 3 months.
3. Composting schedule
   • Preparation in November, field application in March.
   • Adjustment of the mixture according to texture (addition or not of straw).
4. Compost application
   • Manual incorporation (with a hoe) into the top 15 centimeters of soil, in a basin about 1 meter in diameter around the date palm.
   • Annual application.
5. Supplementation with mineral fertilizer (NPK 14/28/14)
   • Dose: 100 kg/ha.
   • Used only if the composted manure is insufficient or if there is a need to accelerate date maturity.

Techno-economic results

• The Majhoul date palm variety currently shows an average yield of 600 kg per tree per year on the farm, knowing that usual yields generally range between 59 and 100 kg per tree per year according to sources. Below 200 kg per tree, the farmer considers that cultural management is not optimal.
• On an area of 2.5 ha, the harvest reaches about 60 tons, generating an annual income of 4,500,000 MAD solely from the date palm.
• The farmer thus estimates that the farm is already profitable with this single crop.

Environmental result

Although there is no directly visible environmental improvement, the manure input allows, in Ali Bouskri's case, to limit the use of synthetic fertilizers, thus reducing potential pollution related to their use as well as the environmental impact of their production. Moreover, this model promotes circular agriculture.

Keys to success

• Have a reliable source to obtain the necessary amount of manure.
• Have a crusher to reduce palm leaves into chips.
• Ensure regular monitoring and anticipate decomposition so that the crushed manure mixture is ready at the right time.

Points of caution

• Ensure that the temperature remains at a sufficient level (between 55 and 65°C for at least 3 days according to FAO) to destroy weed seeds.
• Avoid excess moisture or dryness in the mixture to prevent slowing decomposition.
• Protect the pile from leaching by rain (loss of nutrients), for example by installing a tarp.

Summary

Ali Bouskri says he is satisfied with his technique, although he still wants to improve it to increase the diameter of the dates.

He recommends trying it, believing it has greatly contributed to achieving large production volumes.

Sources

Interview with Ali Bouskri conducted in 2025.

This page was written in partnership with the Urbane project and with the financial support of the European Union.