Chemical Composition of the Pits of Selected Date Palm Cultivars Grown in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia PDF

Keywords

date palm cultivars, Saudi Arabia, pits

Abstract

In this study, the pits of eleven selected date palm cultivars grown in the Qassim region were analyzed (on dry weight basis) for their elemental composition as well as organic constituents. Regarding the elemental composition, their concentration ranges in the pits of the studied cultivars were as follows: Nitrogen, 0.81-1.20%; phosphorus, 0.186-0.259%; potassium, 0.363- 0.403%; calcium, 0.357-0.422%; magnesium, 0.104-0.153%; chloride, 0.269-0.507%; sodium, 0.029- 0.043%; iron, 124.8- 172.0 µg/g; manganese, 17.0- 24.8 µg/g; zinc, 8.3- 18.3 µg/g; and copper, 8.8- 17.3 µg/g, while the concentration ranges of the organic constituents were as follows: total carbohydrates, 57.645- 68.918%; total sugars, 3.773- 5.830; total proteins, 5.11- 7.52%; crude fats, 8.67- 12.31%; and tannins, 1.59- 3.48%. Significant differences were also observed among the studied cultivars in most of their mineral and organic constituents. Significant correlation coefficients were found among the mineral composition and organic constituents of the pits of the selected cultivars in most cases.