Estidamah Reports Breakthrough in Irrigation Efficiency for Date Palms

Field trials conducted by the National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture (Estidamah) to evaluate Liquid Natural Clay (LNC) technology demonstrated promising results in enhancing soil quality, boosting water and nutrient retention, and maintaining date palm productivity.

 Evaluation findings revealed a 25% reduction in irrigation water consumption, with soil water retention capacity rising from roughly 60% before treatment to 75%. Plant-available water increased to 16.8%, up from 11.7%. By applying natural clay in liquid form to improve soil characteristics, the technology curbs moisture loss and could reduce the agricultural sector's water footprint by up to 25%, with broad application to date palms potentially saving approximately 600 million cubic meters of water.

 Conducted in collaboration with technology developer Saudi Desert Control, the trials represent a key research milestone toward expanding modern water-management practices tailored to arid climates, reinforcing food security, and supporting environmental sustainability across the Kingdom.