Macro- and Micro-Nutrients Composition and Concentration in Al-Uja Soil Under a Date Palm Plantation, Palestine

A field study for the soil of Date Palm trees farm in Al-Uja area was carried out in order to determine nutrients composition and concentrations of the soils from different four points along the farm. Soil samples were collected from two depths of each point (0–40, 40–80 cm). Soils nutrients were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) in to determine K⁺, Ca⁺², Mg⁺², Na⁺, Fe⁺³, Mn⁺², Cu⁺, and, Zn⁺². Total N was determined using Kjeldahl method and total P was determined using Olsen method. The results of soil analysis showed that there is a deficiency of micro-nutrients and for macro-nutrients in all points of soil. They also showed that the total content of nitrogen in both soil types is considered medium, that the total phosphorous (TP) decreases eastward, that the potassium content of both soil depths is considered high, and that magnesium and calcium contents are low. In general there is no significant difference for macro-nutrients content when depth increases. It is recommended not only to add adequate weight of micro-nutrients, but also to find methods to mobilize Ca⁺² and Mg⁺². Following the results on the study area, it was clear that the applied fertilizers are not site-specific and not finely tuned to local soil chemical conditions. Therefore information needs to be collected on soil nutrients on the one hand and soil fertility needs to be improved using agro forestry techniques.