Everything you need to learn about mangoes cultivation, harvesting and growth.
It deals with various cultivation practices like land preparation, digging of pits, preparation of drainage, sapling plantation, inter cropping, cover tree etc. while cultural practices includes application of manure, fertilizer, irrigation, spraying, weed/pest control, etc.
Land Preparation for Mango Cultivation:
Usually, all types of soil are conducive to mango cultivation. However, high, medium high land with exposure to sunlight throughout the day and having alluvium or fertile soil should be identified. The depth of soil should be 2-2.5 m. The sand, stones, pebbles, hard layer or soda containing layers at a depth of 1-1.5 may be removed for growth of plants. Inadequate food and water affects the growth and productivity decreases, fruits drop prematurely and the trees dry up. There should be adequate water drainage system and irrigation facilities during summer and winter seasons.
If the land is used for cultivation for the first time, uneven or full of weeds, then it has to be made cultivable by removing the weeds and by leveling of the land. In the month of June, seeds @ 50 kgs per hectare may be sown. When the plants are around 30-40 days old, they should be thoroughly mixed with the soil using plough so that the decay enhances the fertility of the soil. During the next summer, pits of specified depth need to be dug. Distance between pits should be fixed depending on the mango variety and fertility of the soil.
The soil of the upper and lower level of the pit should be exposed to adequate sunlight for 15-25 days. This results in the destruction of various insects present in the soil. Before plantation of the saplings, 40-50 kgs Cow-dung or compost, 2.5 kgs mustard or neemkhol, 500 gms super phosphate and 25 gms 2 per cent folidol powder should be mixed with the soil of the pit and thereafter the pit may be filled with soil.
Sapling Plantation of Mangoes:
Grafted clean healthy sapling having a straight shoot with green leaves should be identified for planting. Ideal time for planting of saplings is from mid-June to mid-September, i.e. during monsoon. In areas prone to flood or heavy rainfall, saplings should be sown at the end of the monsoon season and in areas prone to low rainfall, it must be sown at the beginning of the monsoon season.
It is advised to plant/ sow the saplings in the evening. Nearly, 400 plants of crossbred variety per hectare for 5 m X 5 m distance and 82 plants of indigenous variety per hectare for 11 m X 11 m. distance may be planted.
Ideal for mango plantation will be 18-20 trees per acre, which will ensure sufficient sunlight, production and color, quantity of the fruit. The ideal spacing between two plants is required to be 20 meters. However, at present it is found that 30 trees are planted per acre with an idea of increasing production per acre. But production in such cases is found to decrease after 8 – 10 years because the garden becomes congested and there will be lack of sunlight.
There are many methods of plantation – square, rectangle, polygon, etc. But square method is the most popular and easiest. Selected grafted sapling should be removed from earthen pot or polythene packs carefully. Care should be taken so that soil from the root does not break or come off. Then the saplings should be planted straight at the center of pits already mixed with fertilizer by removing 8-10 cm of soil. Thereafter, the loose soil should be lightly pressed around the sapling by hand to ensure that there is no gap at the base of the sapling.
The growth will be affected if water or air gets through. The soil at the base of the sapling should be high so that no rainwater can accumulate at the spot. It is advisable to provide some support in the form of sticks which help them grow straight and strong. After plantation, water should be poured on the plant. It is advisable to plant the sapling at a specified distance in block or line. This ensures production round the year in the same orchard.
Planting and Care of Mango Plant:
Planting of evergreen plants is generally done with a ball of earth in the beginning of the rainy season on a rain free day. In areas of heavy rain-fall, the planting is delayed till the end of the monsoon season. In North India, planting can also be done in February-March, if assured irrigation is available. The plants inarched during the previous season are generally ready for planting at this time and make quicker growth if planted in the field at this time.
The planting is done in previously dug, exposed and filled pits of the size of 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 m. Sometimes brushwood is burnt in pits before filling them. This improves the structure of the surrounding soil and adds potassium in the form of ashes. The field is leveled, ploughed and cleaned of weeds before digging of pits.
The application of nitrogen to young plants hastens growth. Before filling the pits, 20 to 30 kg of well decomposed farmyard manure should be added to them along with 800 g of bone-meal and 1 kg wood ashes. Fresh cow dung produces too much heat and attracts white ants.
Where white ants are a serious problem, the manure is applied two months before planting or six months after wards. Planting is done on a cool day or in the evening and the plants are watered immediately. The wrapping from the union of the graft is removed, if not already done.
The planting distance varies greatly. The old orchards are often too densely planted and the trees grow very tall and upright. Cultivation in such groves is difficult, diseases and pests are very common and yields are poor. Generally, a planting distance of 10 to 12 metres is satisfactory. In Gujarat and the coastal areas, where the trees grow very large the distance is increased to 16 to 18 metres apart.
In heavier soils of the Deccan and the Karnataka, growth of the trees, is less and they are planted 10 metres apart. The planting distance also varies according to the variety. A variety like Langra needs to be planted 16 metres apart, whereas a distance of 10 to 12 metre is adequate for Dashehari under the same conditions.
Dashehari, Langra, Chausa, Bombay Green and Himsagar varieties of mango are self-incompatible and should not be planted in isolation.
Thus the practice of monoculture of a particular variety should be avoided. At least 8 to 10% other compatible varieties should be planted in new plantations. In old orchards few branches may be top worked with pollinizing varieties.
High Density Planting in Mango and Its Management:
Most of the commercial varieties of mango are irregular bearing and are generally planted at a conventional planting distance of 10 to 15 m, accommodating about 70 to 100 plants/ha. This wide spacing often results in underutilization of interspaces during early stage of the orchard life causing loss in productivity.
Hence, there is need for high density planting.
The concept took practical shape after the development of:
(i) dwarf, regular bearing mango varieties like Amrapali from IARI, New Delhi and Sindhu from Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) and
(ii) the development of dehorning technique from Pantnagar (Uttaranchal).
In the variety Amrapali, the planting is done 2.5 x 2.5 m in triangular method which accommodates 1600 plants/ha. It is preferable to establish such an orchard in situ. In order to grow the plants bushy “Pinching off” of the terminal bud upto two years of age is essential.
The plants start bearing after three years of planting in the field. Such plants produce fruits 11.5 tonnes/ha in the fifth year and the fruit yield increases upto 22.0 tonnes/ha in the 9th year as compared to the present average yield of 8.67 t/ha. This results in prolific bearing. As a result the fruits are not of uniform size. Thus fruit thinning soon after fruit set is essential to get fruits of good size. After 12 year of planting such orchards show a decline in fruit yield due to overcrowding. Therefore pruning of the shoots after harvest is essential every year.
Sindhu or High Density Planting:
The plants of “Sindhu” are relatively dwarf, compact precocious, regular and prolific bearing thus most suitable for high density planting. These can be planted at spacing of 7.5 x 5.0 m, accommodating 400 plants/ha in a square system of planting. Fertilizer dose consists of 10 kg FYM with 300 g urea, 300 g single super phosphate and 100 g muriate of potash for one year old plants. This is increased with the age in same multiple till the 10th year of planting.
Thus a ten year old plant will receive 3 kg Urea + 3 kg SSP + 1 kg MOP + 50 kg FYM. The dose will remain constant thereafter. Such plants produce 200 to 250 fruits per tree.
Variety Dashehari can also be grown under high density planting with a planting distance of 3.0 x 2.5 m (1333 plants/ha). The plants are allowed to grow normally upto 10 years with normal doses of manures and fertilizers. After 10 years of planting, 50 per cent of the branches are dehorned and another 25 per cent in the 12th year.
Dehorning is done soon after harvesting of fruits. Such orchards can give yields as high as 18 tonnes/ha in the 10th year and it can be sustained by dehorning the trees in the following years. The productivity can further be sustained by inducing flowering and fruiting in off year by the use of growth regulator like paclobutrazol.
Since mango trees take several years to grow to their full size, inter cropping and planting of filler trees in order to utilize the inter spaces is very important. Papaya, phalsa (Greivia subinaequalis), guava, plum and peach can be planted as fillers, depending upon the climate. Fillers are generally planted between the rows of mango trees, but additional rows of fillers can also be planted.
In interior parts of Maharashtra, dwarf bananas are planted as an intercrop for the first two years. It saves the young mango trees from heat and seems to have no ill effect on the mango plants. Pineapple, lady’s finger, cape-gooseberry, cowpeas (Vigna sinensis), guar (Cyampsis posralioides), and other vegetables can be used as inter crops.
A cropping system of cowpea-potato was found to give high monetary return upto 10 years old mango orchards in Lucknow. Cover cropping during the rains is important. It prevents erosion of soil and leaching of fertility. Sesbania aegyptiaca and Crotalaria juncea can be used for this purpose and buried in the soil for green manuring.
In areas where frost is a hazard, the young plants are covered with thatch on three sides and the top during every cold period. The thatch cover is kept open on the eastern side. Sometimes the young plants need protection from hot winds in North India in summer. Temporary live hedges can provide this protection. Often the young plants produce some flowers. These are pinched off during the first five years.
No pruning is done during the nonbearing stage except for removal of bunchy tops, if this disease appears. Cultivation of the orchard is required twice a year. Weeding is important in the rainy season. Clean cultivation during the dry season combined with cover cropping during the monsoon is recommended.
Some varieties like Bombai are said to do poorly if cultivation is neglected. The old neglected mango groves improve considerably if they are properly managed. Mango requires no pruning in the later years also, except removal of dead dry and diseased wood and removal of branches on which the plant parasite loranthus is growing.
Post-Plantation Nursing of Mango Plants:
During winter and summer young plants are watered frequently to ensure proper growth. In case of adult trees, irrigation at 10-15 days interval from fruit set to maturity is beneficial for improving yield. However, irrigation is not recommended for 2-3 months prior to flowering as it is likely to promote vegetative growth at the expense of flowering. It is advisable to provide little irrigation regularly during winter and summer season.
Also provision of irrigation to saplings up to five years is necessary as per details given below:
If it rains frequently, irrigation will be reduced accordingly. After flowering, it is recommended to provide irrigation 3-4 times at an interval of 15-20 days. It would result in increased production along with healthy, delicious and colorful fruit. An earthen ring has to be prepared around an adult tree where irrigation need to be provided, while for a young plant basin is required for irrigation water, so that less water is wasted.
At the base of the saplings, soil should be kept high so that rain water does not accumulate at the base or adequate drainage should be provided for rain water.
After one month of planting of saplings, it is recommended to remove weeds present in the garden by ploughing. It should also be done in old mango orchards during post-harvest period.
To protect mango trees and its fruits from storm, it is advisable to plant ‘storm stopping’ trees e.g. Debdaru, Kalojam, Jhau, Lambu, Sishu, etc. trees in the southwestern side of the orchard. This is mainly on account of a stronger probability of south westerly storm in eastern part of the country during March April, a duration of flowering.
Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, are harmful for the saplings. Temperature over 37.5° Celsius or below 7° Celsius causes immense damage to saplings aged 3-4 years. They can be protected from bad weather if covered by dry grass or straw.
After 1-2 years of planting the grafted sapling, they start flowering. It is suggested to break them off, because, it does not help the roots and branches to grow properly and the tree becomes very weak. If any branch comes out from the stock of the tree it is better to prune them off immediately. Further, it may be ensured that the plant grows straight for at least 1 meter. It should not have more than 4-6 branches spread out evenly in all direction.
To get regular and good production, both urea and phosphate fertilizers can be applied in required proportion twice every year. There is a need to increase the quantity of fertilizer according to growth of the tree.
Application of Fertilizers to the Mango Plants:
Fertilizer in the quantity (Table 6.3) per plant per year can be applied by mixing with the soil in two doses, i.e. once after collection of fruit or before monsoon (June-July) and again when fruits begin to form, keeping a distance of 1 feet from the base of the tree.
Irrigation is a necessary supplement after this application.
Diseases and Pests Attack:
A sapling is prone to the following diseases and pests attack at an early age:
i. Anthracrose:
Mango trees are prone to fungal attack in areas with heavy rainfall, moisture and humidity. It is seen in young leaves and branches. Initially, deep brown or black spot appears. Therefore, the young branches gradually dry up from the top. There is a need to keep the garden clean. It is essential to cut the affected part of the tree and burn it. In addition to this, Copper Oxichloride, e.g., Blitox @ 4 gms/lt should be mixed with water and sprayed.
Further, Mancozeb, e.g., Dythen M 45 @ 2.5 gms/lt, Captan or Caftaf @2.0 gms/lt, Bavistin 1 gm/lt should be mixed with water and sprayed twice at an interval of 15 days. It is advisable to spray medicine in affected gardens in August-September.
ii. Leaf-Cutter Bug:
In the beginning of monsoon a brown colored female pest lays eggs in the center of leaves and cuts the leaf in such a manner as if it has been cut off by a scissors. The affected leaves with egg drop to the ground. Many a time it is seen that most of the newly sprouted leaves of the affected branch are cut, resulting in the sapling becoming weak, which is detrimental to its normal growth. This problem is seen during monsoon only. Growing trees are also prone to such attack.
Therefore, in order to get rid of these pests, during winter season, the orchard should be freed of weeds and the soil should be dug and mud loosened. When this type of attack is observed, Endosulphar (2 ml/lt) or Carboryl (2 g/lt) may be sprayed on the sprouting leaves. The affected leaves on the ground may be collected either for burning with the help of kerosene oil or for dumping them by pesticides to prevent further contamination.
iii. Hole Driller Bug:
The larva of this pest makes a hole at the tip of growing branches and enters them. This hole could be as deep as 8-10 cm. As a result, the branches dry up. Spraying of Carboryl @ 3g/It water is recommended on new sprouting branches for good result. Injecting these holes with kerosene or petrol also gives good results.
iv. Mealy Bug:
The flat white colored pests are found on the branches sticking together. It looks as if a layer of curd has been applied on the branch. They suck the juice from the branch, resulting in the soft branches getting dried up. Diemithoete @1 ml/lt water is recommended for spraying.
During the month of November, it is advisable, to protect the tree from attack of these pests by covering the main trunk with a layer of mud and then by a polythene sheet of 1 foot width. Folidol powder can also be sprinkled around the main trunk.
Inter Cropping:
As mango trees take longer time to yield profit to the grower, it is desirable to supplement one’s income by growing some short-term crops till the orchard is not shaded by trees. Such crops when taken in the orchard are called inter crops. There is another kind of cropping in the orchard when the orchard soil is covered with some crop which in due course is turned back to the soil to supplement organic matter of the orchard soil. This is called cover crops. These two types of crops (inter crops and cover crops) are important operations in the management of a good orchard, although many growers do not pay much attention to it.
In case of traditional mango varieties, no fruits can be expected from mango trees during the initial 7-8 years. When the saplings are small, there is enough vacant- space in between the trees in the garden, the farmers can use the in-between space commercially.
Some of the tips are illustrated- Inter crops such as vegetables, legumes, short duration and dwarf fruit crops like chilly, ladies finger, brinjal, etc. can be cultivated during kharif season. During rabi, vegetables and pulses can be grown. During April, lady’s finger, moogdal, soyabean can be cultivated. Fruits like papaya, guava, pineapple etc. can be grown depending on the agro-climatic condition of the region. The water and nutrient requirements of the inter crops must be met separately.
It is recommended not to grow turmeric, ginger or any crop which draw more nutrients from the soil. However, once the saplings grow into big trees, coriander, pulses etc. can be planted in between the trees where sunlight is available. It helps to safeguard soil erosion, enhance water retaining capacity and fertility.
Nowadays, cultivation of some flowers like marigold, sarpagandha, aswagandha, etc. is quite profitable.
Vegetables that have their roots within 25 cm depth of the soil are considered good for intercropping. These are tomato, beans, radish, palak etc. These vegetables can be taken profitably in a growing orchard by appropriate application of nutrients to the soil and also maintaining an optimum level of moisture. Among the annual crops, due consideration should be given to the legumes such as pea, lentil, moth bean, black gram and green gram.
While taking some of the short-term and early fruit bearing crops as an inter crop, due consideration is essential for the selection of a particular fruit. This is essential because the roots of such trees may start competing with the roots of main fruit trees for nutrient and moisture. The feeler trees, unless removed at appropriate time when primary fruit trees start giving economic crop, may create problems of low orchard efficiency. Keeping this point in mind, it is apparent that wherever pineapple and strawberry can be grown, these serve as ideal inter crops.
Wherever frost hazard is less, an inter crop like papaya can be taken profitably in a mango orchard. Likewise, in the northern plains of India, Sharbati peach can be an excellent inter crop for mango orchard. Phalsa and guava can also be included in the early stage of growth of the trees, provided these are maintained properly by adequate pruning and removal at proper time.
The method of growing inter crop in an orchard is different in the young and the bearing orchards. In the former the entire land is utilized, leaving only the basin portion of the tree. The tree is located in the middle of the bed in which the crop is grown. As the trees grow in age, the size of the basin increases and the area of inter crops get reduced gradually. When the trees attain good bearing age, the inter crop is grown in between the tree rows in one direction, i.e. on two opposite sides of the trees, leaving the other two sides open.
The trees are enclosed by a strong bund on two sides running from one end of the orchard to the other. This facilitates irrigation of the trees within the bonded space independent of the inter crop. It also provides space for movement during plant protection and other operation in the orchard.
While taking inter crop, a common mistake is committed. The fruit trees are left to obtain nutrients from the same fertilizer dose applied to the inter crops. This is one of the main causes of decline in mango production. The inter crop and the fruit trees must receive separately their independent requirements of fertilizer, irrigation and sunlight.
Besides, intercropping in orchard promotes infestation of pests and diseases in greater intensity than under clean cultivation. This is due to increase in the humidity and vegetation around the trees due to inter crops. Hence, regular plant-protection measures against pests and disease of the mango crop are essential. In case of mature mango orchard, inter crops can be grown where there is sufficient sunlight.
Principles of Inter Cropping:
Inter crops should occupy a secondary place in the orchard, primary consideration being given to the orchard. Therefore, some principles are followed in inter cropping. The crops that may grow tall and have a tendency towards excessive growth should be discouraged. At least 120 cm radius must be left from the base of the growing fruit trees for taking inter crops.
Such inter crops should be selected that do not exhaust the nutrients and moisture from the soil, essential for the growth of fruit trees. Perennial or exhaustive crops should be discouraged as an inter crop in the orchard. Bee farming in mango orchards gives scope for extra income and extra fruit production every year.
Inter cropping is practiced in both the districts of west Bengal but not extensively. Mostly brinjal, potato, haldi, musur, black jeera and dhania, kalai dal, elephant food, white potato is cultivated. In the old mango orchards consisting of the adult trees with big canopy, intercropping cannot be practiced due to lack of sunlight. The crops thus cultivated are sold to the market and they can earn Rs.24000/- to Rs.30000/- per acre annually.
One of the features observed in Malda district is that the open area with sunlight in the mango orchard is given to bargadars for cultivation of inter crops. He may be given financial assistance by the orchard owner. He will use his own labor and in turn give half the share of the vegetables produced to the owner. This is known as ‘tal barga’.
Cover Crops:
These crops save the orchard soil from being eroded during the rainy season, particularly in areas where drainage is not proper. Water-holding capacity of the soil is increased and the biological complex of the soil is also improved. It is preferable to take leguminous crops for cover cropping so that nitrogen fixation in the orchard soil is facilitated. Another advantage of cover crops is that they will prevent the growth of weeds. During rainy season (Kharif) green gram, black gram, cow pea and guar are preferable. During winter season (Rabi), it is desirable to take sweet clover (Senji), pea, lentil, moth bean and fenugreek.
The most important point in the selection of cover crops is the requirement of water of a particular crop. If a particular crop needs to be irrigated very frequently when the orchard trees do not need water, this will certainly tell upon the productivity of the fruit trees. For example, if berseem is taken in a mango orchard during winter when fruit bud differentiation and flowering is expected and the orchard is irrigated too frequently, it may not be conducive to the productivity of the tree in general.
Cultural Schedule and its Importance —Some Important Suggestions:
Factors responsible for the decline of fruit yield and proper fruiting pattern mostly pertain to management practices such as nutrition of trees and control of weeds, insect pests and diseases. If the trees do not present a healthy appearance and leaves look somewhat yellowish, it is obvious that such trees suffer from under-nutrition.
If the cover crops or inter crops are taken regularly, the weeds will be automatically suppressed. A constant watch over the diseases and pests of mango is necessary for ensuring quality crop from trees. When the humidity builds up appreciably during the flowering time, incidence of mango hopper and powdery mildew is very much increased, and sometimes this may result in no fruit set.
One of the important schedules in mango orchard management is maintenance of excellent sanitary conditions in the orchard and regular pruning of the malformed parts (both vegetative and floral) in the tree, if any. This will ensure reduced incidence of mango malformation.
Proper irrigation of trees, particularly during summer, is very essential to get quality crop from the bearing trees and proper growth in young plants. While bearing trees ought to be irrigated at an interval of a fortnight during summer, younger plants need weekly irrigation.
Trees must be regularly observed for any setback due to any cause and steps must be taken immediately to remedy it. A proper round-the-year cultural schedule must be drawn up before hand and operations should be done as per schedule. This will ensure production of quality crop from healthy mango trees.
Irregular Bearing Habit of Mango Tree:
Generally, mango trees do not bear fruit every year. It is observed that a tree, which bears good number of fruits in a year, does not bear fruit or bears very few fruits in the subsequent year. This nature of mango trees is called irregular bearing. It is a serious problem and therefore in order to regularize the mango production the following steps can be taken.
It has been observed that two to three times evening- out of the land, regulated application of fertilizer and irrigation results in growth of new branches when the flower comes. These branches bear fruit during next winter. This method gives some production even in unproductive years.
To get flowers in extremely fast growing trees, it is advisable to remove 1 inch skin in a ring form from the branches of the tree. It must be done during August- September, i.e. before four months the flowering season. It results in increased content of carbohydrate and nitrogen in the branch which helps flowering.
It has been observed through various experiments that if in a particular tree in a particular year, flowers come in good quantity, it is better to destroy some. This helps in preserving nutrients in these branches which in turn help in growth of new leaves in these branches during summer and spring. It also helps flowering in these branches during the next season and regulating the irregular fruit bearing habit of the tree.
Some varieties bear fruits two to three times in a year. Generally ripe mangos of these varieties are not good in quality. But some are very good viz. ‘chini dofola’, topa dofola’. These types can be grown to get production throughout the year.
Flowering of the trees is dependent on hormones present in the tree, like oxin, jibbareline or growth control hormone present in the tree. Good results are obtained when these hormones are externally sprayed.
Diseases and pest attack results in the loss of flower and reduce the volume of production. There is a need for spraying of medicine in appropriate quantity and on time help to control diseases and pests.
Mango trees respond well to organic manure applications. Organic manures such as vermicompost, panchagavya and vermiwash are used for promoting healthy growth and fruit formation. From the initial planting stages to caring of full grown trees, Panchagavya and vermicompost can be effectively used to supply essential nutrients to the trees and prevent pest infections. Vermicompost is prepared by using earthworms. Vermiwash is the liquid collected after the passage of water through a column of activated earthworms. It is very useful as an organic spray for all crops.
Panchagavya is an organic growth promoter, which is prepared by mixing cow dung, cow urine, cow milk, curd and ghee in suitable proportions, and is sprayed on the plants. It contains several macro, micro nutrients, beneficial bacteria and fungi, which aid in growth promotion and act as effective pest repellents. It can be prepared by thoroughly mixing five kilos of fresh cow dung and one litre of cow’s ghee in a plastic or cement tank or earthen pot.
The mixture is stirred daily for three to four days. About three litres of cow’s milk, two litres of cow’s curd, three litres of sugarcane juice, three litres of tender coconut water and 10 to 12 bananas are mixed well and added to the mixture. The entire concoction is allowed to ferment for fifteen days. The container should be covered with a net (or) cotton cloth to allow aeration of the fermenting unit.
The concoction is stirred two or three times a day for about fifteen days and then used. For mango trees of about 6-7 years age, vermicompost may be applied at the rate of 10 kilograms per tree in one litre of water may be sprayed over the foliage (crown) and at the base of the tree. Spraying Panchagavya over the crown and at the base of the tree must be done four to five times.
The first spraying must be done before the flowering season (January-March) to increase flower formation. A second spraying must be done after 15-20 days. The process must be repeated till the flowers turn into small size buds. Once the buds start forming then the application can be done once a month. Use of Panchagavya and vermicompost has been found to increase the size, number and enhance the color of the fruits. The fruits thus grown become more acceptable for export.
Recommended Practices:
The recommended practice for one hectare of mango tree is about 25 litres of Pachagavya (mixed in 750-800 litres of water) and four to five MT of vermicompost. Spraying Panchagavya has been found effective in the control of fruit fly menace, a common infection in all fruit bearing trees. Trees treated with organic manures bore large sized leaves and form a dense canopy with profuse rooting systems. The taste and shelf life of the fruits are also found to be more satisfactory.
The interaction of the root hairs of these trees with the organic manures also increases the activity of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil. The organic manures also act as a carrier medium for the development of several beneficial microorganisms such as azospirillum, azotobacter, rhizobium and phosphor bacteria.
It was observed that in both the districts, some of the progressive orchard owners who are cultivating mangoes themselves have started using organic fertilizers and pest repellent. It was reported that it not only improves the health of the trees but also the quality and taste of the mangoes.
These types of mangoes have high demand in the western countries and it is expected that as more and more farmers take up this practice, the export of mangoes will increase in the coming years. The District Horticulture Department has taken initiative in explaining and motivating the farmers regarding this type of cultivation and Demonstration Camp.
Training and Pruning of Mango:
The training of plants to give proper shape in the initial year is necessary. At least 75 cm of the main stem should be kept free from branching and thereafter only those lateral branches should be allowed which have good crotch angle. The branches should be in different directions.
“Pinching off” has been recommended for better training of Amrapali. In this operation, terminal buds of new growth are pinched off during second year of planting. Afterwards there is no need to pinch the buds as the growth is automatically maintained by fruiting process every year.
Pruning in mango has recently been advocated to secure regular yield. All varieties of mango are reported to respond well to pruning. It helps in opening up the trees and allowing the penetration of sunlight. This increases the photosynthetic efficiency of the trees and also eliminates the buildup of some insect pests and pathogenic organisms.
The pruned trees respond well to liberal manuring and sound water management. The pruning should be done after harvest of the fruits and completed by middle of August. Amrapali responds to pruning. For sustainable production of Amrapali under high density concept of planting after 12 years of fruiting pruning should be resorted every year after harvest of the fruits.
Mango needs 125 to 170 cm of precipitation annually, but on account of its deep tap-root system, it requires little irrigation after the first few years. No irrigation is practiced in Bengal, Bihar and on the West Coast of India and very little in Peninsular India. When the planting is done in spring, the young plants require irrigation every fourth or fifth day during the first summer till the rains break.
During the rains irrigation should be given only if the soil dries up. The winter irrigation every two or three weeks is sufficient. During the second summer, the young plants should be irrigated every week or ten days. Irrigation must be avoided at least 2-3 months before flowering because it promotes vegetative growth, which will be detrimental to flowering. The bearing plants are often given no irrigation but irrigation after fruit set to harvest time reduces fruit drop and gives larger fruits.
This is the most important period for irrigation, the frequency of which is influenced by the type of soil. In black cotton soils which are moisture retentive, no irrigation of bearing trees is practiced, but these soils are not otherwise good for mango cultivation. Irrigation during the monsoon is hardly ever required.
Alluvial soils of the indo Gangetic plain, red soils of Dharwad require irrigation. Soils of the Konkan coast are moisture retentive and no irrigation even unless the rains fail for several weeks. Irrigation at the time of flowering should be withheld. This increases flowering. However, irrigation should be given during December in the off year.
Irrigation of young trees should be done by the modified ring method and of the bearing trees by flooding or the furrow method. On the Ratnagiri Coast in Maharashtra, a 3 metre round mound is made around the trunk of each tree. Watering is done by hand on top of this mound, which retains moisture for a long time.
Judicious fertilizer use is necessary for obtaining good yield of high quality fruit. The nutrient requirement varies with the region, the type of soil and the age of the tree. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient required for mango. It greatly improves growth especially if potash and phosphorus are present in sufficient quantities. Flowering and fruiting are dependent upon the vegetative growth.
Optimum level of nitrogen also improves the uptake of potassium but its excess depresses it. Mango can withstand deficiency of phosphorus, but not of potassium. The requirement of one year old plant can be met by 75 g of nitrogen, 110 g of P and 55 g of K. Forty to eighty per cent of nitrogen should be in the form of FYM organic manure. These doses need to be increased by the same amount each year.
Application of 1 kg N, 0.5 kg P and 1 kg K and 3 per cent urea as foliar spray per year after pruning resulted in marked improvement in fruit yield in 60 year old declined Fazli tree. In cv. Dashehari, application of 100 g N, 200 g P and 200 g K tree/year age has been suggested. A full bearing plant of Chausa mango should be given 1000 g N, 500 g P and 1000 g K as reported from Saharanpur in U.P However, from C.I.S.H., Lucknow, soil application of 400 g N, 200 g and 400 g K per tree to 10 year old Dashehari mangoes increased the yield.
Trench application around the tree in July has been found to be most efficient. Addition of 250 g each of CuO4, ZnSO4 and Boron further improve the yield and quality of fruits. Foliar spray of (0.6%) P and (0.1%) K twice in a year i.e. in September-October and in March after fruit set at pea stage is also beneficial.
Harvesting of Mangoes:
The ripening and quality of a mango depends at what stage of maturity it is plucked. Premature plucking will affect the actual taste, smell and shape.
Factors which help determine plucking of mango at the right time are:
i. When yellow color appears on top of the fruit.
ii. When ripe mango starts dropping from tree.
iii. When the gravitational pull of the mango is between 1:1.01 and 1: 1.02, e.g. If a mango sinks in a bucket of water, then it is at the right stage of maturity.
iv. When there are 30 ripe mangoes out of 100 in the tree.
If the fruits are collected through the process of checking the branches, it may fall on the ground causing both external and internal damage to the fruit. The mango can be preserved for long if the fruit is collected with at least 8-10 mm of its stalk. For this, proper apparatus should be used for safe collection of fruit. Mango collecting apparatus have a knife and a net at the head of a long bamboo pole.
Mangoes are cut with a portion of stalk and brought down in the net. Collected mangoes are to be placed on a net made from bamboo in upside downslide so that the gum runs off and does not fall on the fruit. As a result, no black spot appear on the fruit and it can be preserved for a long time.
After collecting the fruit, it is necessary to sort immediately according to size and shape. Wooden boxes or card board boxes with a capacity of 50-100 mangoes are mostly used for packaging. The boxes should have sufficient number of holes to allow ventilation. To prevent any sort of damage, each fruit should be wrapped in newspaper and placed in the box.
Generally green mangoes plucked at maturity could be preserved for a longer time than ripe ones plucked from the tree. Regulated humidity, low temperature and usage of chemicals delay ripening of the mangoes. 5° – 10° C temperature and 85 – 90 per cent of relative humidity is ideal for storage of various varieties of mangoes. Very low temperature can damage mangoes. Paraffin layer (3%) on the mango gives it a longer shelf life. It can be preserved for two weeks if it is put into cold water of 12°-15° C and with room temperature of 15°C.