The palm responds rapidly to the application of fertilizer. An additional organic material that is a principal care in fertilization needs to be added to desert soils, which are always lacking in humus. Anything available may be used in arid agriculture. Manure should be applied once a year or every other year. A simple method, for example, is to tie an animal, such as a goat, to each palm for a few days. Application of manure should be made in winter; thus, the organic material has a chance to become well incorporated in the soil before summer. It is preferable to spread the manure around the palm and then mix it with the top surface of the ground.

Commercial fertilizers have been used very little in date palm growing regions, and they are likely to be less satisfactory than rough organic material. The best practical advice seems to be to use plenty of organic material, particularly that of a nitrogenous nature.