This study conducted in 2020–2021 sought to determine the impact of NPK fertilizer with three levels (F₀: 0, F₁: 900 g, F₂: 1300 g) and three levels of pruning at the ratio of P₁: 5, P₂: 7, and P₃: 9 leaves/bunch, to improve the fruit and quality of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. “Khastawi,” held at the Al-Zahfaraniah Palm Station, Baghdad Governorate, Iraq. Executing the study as a factorial experiment (3 × 3) within a randomized complete block design (RCBD) had three replications. Every two date palms as an experimental unit setup came from 54 trees aged 16 years and, as much as possible, homogeneous in growth characteristics. The experimental results showed that NPK fertilization at the F₂ level was superior in all studied traits, including fruit set, weight, width, length, volume, seed and bunch weights, and total yield. The pruning treatment (P3) was significantly superior by giving the highest fruit set, width, and length values, whereas F₀ and P₂ treatments gave the lowest average for these traits. Furthermore, the interaction of F₂P₃ provided the highest rates in fruit weight, length, volume, seed, and bunch weights, and total yield, while the F₀P₁ treatment gave the lowest values.

Keywords: Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), NPK fertilization, pruning, fruit trait, fruit yield, fruit quality

Key findings: The studied traits increased significantly, especially the qualitative fruit traits and the yield of the date palm Khastawi cultivar, especially when adding the NPK fertilizer at a concentration of 1300 g and keeping nine leaves for each bunch.