Climate Change and Plant Diseases: An Applied Study on Date Palm Trees in Thi-Qar Governorate

Abstract

The study under investigation reveals the impact of climate change indicators on the spread of certain diseases affecting date palm trees in Thi-Qar Governorate. It analyzes monthly and yearly variations in climatic characteristics based on data collected from the primary monitoring station (An-Nasiriya) in Thi-Qar (the study area) over a major climatic cycle spanning seventy-eight years (1941-2018), divided into seven minor climatic cycles of eleven years each, except for the seventh cycle which lasted twelve years (1941-1951, 1952-1962, 1963-1973, 1974-1984, 1985-1995, 1996-2006, and 2007-2018).

        However, the study identifies the current climate trends in Thi-Qar Governorate and assesses the general trends of various climatic elements such as solar radiation, temperatures (maximum, minimum, and average), atmospheric pressure, winds, rainfall, humidity, as well as dust phenomena (dust storms, suspended dust, settled dust) and heat extremes (heatwaves and cold spells). It relies on statistical data series for several climatic variables from the meteorological station in An-Nasiriya representing Thi-Qar Governorate

The study, as a result, finds that An-Nasiriya district ranks first in palm tree diseases due to recurrent dust phenomena, its proximity to the western desert plateau, limited irrigated areas, severe air pollution caused by industrial concentration near populated areas, the proliferation of brick factories in the district, aging infrastructure, deteriorating services, sewage overflow, spread of epidemics, harmful insects affecting palm trees, and other climatic, environmental, and atmospheric pollutants such as pollen dispersion, plant aromas, and airborne allergens, all contributing to increased incidence of palm tree diseases  Consequently, Al-Shatrah district ranks second; Al-Rifai district comes in the third place; Suq Al-Shuyoukh district comes fourth; and Al-Chabayish district scores its rank lastly in the fifth place in terms of the number of palm trees affected by climatic and physiological diseases during the period 2012-2022 in Thi-Qar Governorate. This is due to converging geographical, climatic, medical, and environmental factors.