Mango
Mango Protocol
Introduction and Importance
Sub-continent is the habitat of mango, where it has been growing for over 4,000 years and subsequently spread to tropical and sub-tropical regions. Mangoes are full of nutrients, excellent source of vitamins A and C as well as potassium, and rich in Anti-oxidants.
The mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan and the Philippines. It is also the national tree of Bangladesh. Mango is the major fruit crop in Pakistan. The main mango growing districts in the Punjab province are Multan, Bahawalpur, Muzzaffargarh and Rahim yar Khan. In the province of Sindh it is mainly grown in Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad and Thatta.
Eating habits of mango differ from country to country. In Thailand and other South Asian countries, sweet glutinous rice is flavored with coconut and served with sliced mango as a dessert. In Pakistan people prefer to eat it fresh through cutting or squeezing.
Mango fruit is a large drupe. The skin is epi-carp and the pulp is meso-carp and the woody seed inside is endocarp. Mangoes are well established as an item of international trade because of their superb taste and quality, Pakistani mangoes sells at good prices in Europe, Canada, the Gulf and eastern countries.
Soil And Climatic Conditions
The ecological conditions suitable for mango cultivation: Mangoes are grown on tropical and subtropical regions in the world and having wide range of soil types, but deep, well drained sandy loam soils give the best results. A hot and humid climate is suitable for mango. In areas with heavy rainfall, fruit may be affected. Suitable temperature range is 20-40 °C. Low temperature is extremely harmful. Frost and hot air can cause damage to the tree. Young plants need protection to the frost and hot wind.
Orchard Layout
Each grid system has its own pros and cons. It solely depends on the farmer’s choice which orchard management practices to implement. There are three grid systems discussed below which are known best grids for mango orchards in this region. Fidak Farms also provide consultancy services and management services for orchard establishment and development according to regional climatic conditions. Fidak farms charged against his services.
20×20 Grid System
Mango early varieties like Sindhri, Anwar Ratool, Dosehri, Langra, Malda Ceroli and Mosmi Chonsa are planted in the square system at 20×20ft. Planting distance depends upon soil, climate, and system of orchard management. The plant population at 20×20ft system is 108 plants per acre. Transplanting is done in well prepared soil and pre-dug pits during March and September.
Figure: square system of orchard layout
Advantages Of 20×20 Grid System
- Increased quantity of plants per acre that will increase the yield after proper canopy management.
Disadvantages
- Increased cost of canopy management.
- Short Margin for any delay in pruning.
- Greater chances of affecting extreme weather conditions.
- Short Margins for any mismanagement in tree calendar.
- No space for inter cropping.
- Opportunity cost is high.
Advantages Of 22×27 Grid System
- Plant population is 73 plants per acre
- Suitable for all early as well as varieties.
- Suitable for attaining ideal plant canopy.
- Provides a 2 ft. window for light and aeration to the plant.
- Higher area of vegetative mid-section exposed to sunlight at tree canopy that provide higher quality fruit.
- Provides space for green manuring.
- Provides space for management practices.
Disadvantages
- Less population than 20×20 grid.
- Short Margins for any mismanagement in tree calendar.
- No space for inter cropping.
Advantages Of 40×40 Grid System
- Plant population is 27 plants per acre.
- Suitable for all varieties early and late.
- Provide 4 ft. window for light and aeration to the plant.
- Higher vegetative area exposed to sunlight at tree canopy that provide higher quality fruit.
- Opportunity cost is low.
- Provides space for green manuring.
- Provides space for management practices.
- Provides space for inter cropping.
Disadvantages
- Less population than 22×27 grid.
Seedling Development (Propagation And Cultural Practices)
Mangoes are propagated both sexually and asexually. Sexual propagation to raising root stock is now restricted in Pakistan because it is not true-to-type (does not give yield as parent plants yield). To raise rootstock of mango seed is sown in July-August in manure bricks. Seeds are shifted in August-September to beds when their leaves turn green. These seedlings remain there for a year until they attain suitable height and thickness. They are propagated with asexual propagation by side or veneer-top grafting.
Transplanting
Transplanting of Mango plant is done during (September to October) and spring season (February to March). The plants should be irrigated just after planting.
Irrigation
Irrigation depends on the type of soil, climatic conditions, rainfall and the age of the trees. No irrigation is required during the monsoon months unless there are long spells of drought. To stop vegetative growth of fruit bearing trees, not to be irrigated in the month of October and November that boost the flowering of the plant.
Table 1: Irrigation Schedule for Mango
Fertilizer Application
Addition of correct amount of fertilizer at the right time is essential for commercial production. Apply micronutrient according to recommendation after soil testing. Soil testing should be done after fruit harvesting every year.
Table 2: Fertilizer Application for Under 10 year Age of fruiting Plants
Table 3: Fertilizer Application for above 10 years plants
Orchard Floor Management
Orchard floor should be clean and free of weeds. Dropped and rotten fruit should not be allowed to remain at the floor. After harvesting orchard floor should be rotavated with rotary slasher. Sunlight should penetrate to the orchard basin for killing of harmful insect and pests and growth of beneficial insects and pests.
Pruning
Mango usually assumes a graceful dome shape shading the main trunk. For mature trees after harvesting diseased, dried, broken branches and those branching touching to earth should be pruned off. Light should reach below the canopy at basin.
Harvesting
Picking should be done when fruit is fully developed and mature. Natural drop of the fruit is the indication that fruit is ready for picking. Different varieties ripen at different times. In Punjab ripening starts from June and continues up to the mid of August. Expected yield vary from 40 to 100kg per tree.
Plant Protection Measurements
Picking should be done when fruit is fully developed and mature. Natural drop of the fruit is the indication that fruit is ready for picking. Different varieties ripen at different times. In Punjab ripening starts from June and continues up to the mid of August. Expected yield vary from 40 to 100kg per tree.
Malformation
It is a serious threat to mango in Pakistan. It affects both vegetative part and inflorescence. Malformed branches show stunned growth on bunchy leaves that’s called bunchy top. Most of the flowers on the malformed inflorescence are male and fruit is hardy. The cause is not yet known. Good management reduces the problem to some extent.
Alternate Bearing
Most of the commercial varieties of mango tend to produce crops in an alternate or biennial pattern. The factors affecting it are environmental, physiological and genetic. Environmental factors like heavy rains, hail, disease and insect attack at blooming cause heavy damage which results in lower yield that year. There is no established control measure, but improved cultural practices including de-blossoming and control of pest and diseases.
Cultural And Management Practices
Other natural measures can also be carried out to minimize or control these pests and diseases.
- Only healthy seeds, seedlings and plants should be used for planting and budding or grafting.
- Intercropping, mix cropping, cover cropping and/or multiple cropping in or in the surrounding of mango orchards must be avoided so that similar possible pathogens of the sown crop and mango (both) may not multiply and spread in orchards.
- Irrigation must be applied as per requirement, and not subject to availability.
- Avoid high doses of nitrogen fertilizers, but apply proper and balanced fertilizers, on the basis of soil type, age and need of the tree.
- Proper sanitation of orchards and pruning of trees (eradication of disease causing organisms through removing and burning of diseased plants or plant parts) helps to reduce the infection and growth, development and further spread of the disease causing fungus or so.
- Burning of all the infected leaves.
- Use Six pheromone traps per acre to reduce the male population.
- Provides space for inter cropping.
- Recharge traps after 15 days.
- Regular picking of dropped fruit.
- Deep burying of pest infested fruits in pits.
Precautionary Measures Against Frost
Mango trees are very sensitive to frost and get damaged if not properly protected. Make your plants ready to face the frost by offering water stress a month before the winter season. The proper coverage of small plants, irrigation of orchards before the expected frost spell during critical frost expected nights are useful practices to minimize the plant damage. However, spray of lime solution on small plants is also one of the best tools in management against frost.