Materials and methods
2.1. The Sultanate of Oman
The Sultanate of Oman is located in the southeast of the Arabian
Peninsula. The total land area is 309,500 km2 and supports a total
population of 2.7 million, 50% of whom live in Muscat or the northern
Al-Batinah Governorate. Al-Batinah is the main agricultural region in
the country with 44.3% of total production, with output rising at about
0.5% per year. Over 80% of the agricultural area is occupied by farms
with areas of less than 2 ha and a wide range of crops are cultivated,
most importantly dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.)