Cultivation Of Mango In Ultra High Density Planting Introduction Mango occupied a pre-eminent place amongst the fruit crops grown in India because of its great utility. Mango exhibits a wide variation in flowering and fruiting habit due to varietal differences and diversity in agro-climatic conditions. India produces world’s largest tonnage of mango. India is the largest producer of mango but the productivity is very low. Low productivity in mango is mainly due to low plant population per hectare, absence of scientific methods of irrigation, inefficient nutrient management, improper orchard management practices and losses due to pests and diseases. Mango, so far has been grown either this as a crop with least management efforts and without inputs like irrigation, fertigation etc. And it leads to low productivity in mango. Now it is important to increase the production of mango by adopting the new hi-technology. We need a technology, which gives more production per unit area, for which the theme Ultra-high density planting comes to fore front. Mango cultivation can be revolutionized by the adoption of ultra high density planting system. This planting system heralds a new era where mango becomes quick, high, shrinking land availability. Mango tree is believed to have evolved as a canopy layer species in the tropical rainforest of south and south-east Asia. Mature specimens can attain a height of 30 cm and can survive for more than 100 years. The root system consist of long, vigorous taproot and abundant surface feeder roots. Both male and perfect flowers are found within a single inflorescence. The flowers are cross pollinated by flies and honey bees. Cultivation practices for UHDP Mango can be grown in a wide range of soils except clayey or extremely sandy or rocky calcareous, alkaline or water logged soils. It prefers a soil pH 6.5 to 7.5. Under UHDP, Mango is planted at 3×2 m which accommodates 674 plants per acre. Pit should be marked at 3×2 m before pit digging and pits of 1×1×1m are to be dug at marked places. Alternatively one meter deep and one meter deep and one meter wide trench can be prepared at every three mater. The pits should be allowed to weather for some weeks before filling media. The media consist of 40-50 kg soil, 0.5 -1.0 kg SSP, 0.25 kg neem cake, 20 kg compost, and 10-15 g of Thimet. Plantation is to be raised by using grafted sapling. Epicotyl grafting is recommended for UHDP as the training of the tree starts at a very early stage itself. The bamboo support essential to newly planted grafts. The critical components of UHDP technology are the management of inputs: irrigation and fertilizer and besides the canopy management. These two inputs are provided through drip irrigation systems. Table No. 1: Mango varieties suitable for UHDP State
Varieties
Andhra Pradesh
Alphonso, Alampur, Baneshan, Totapuri
Bihar
Bombai, Himsagar, Langra, Chausa
Goa
Mankaurad
Gujarat
Alphonso, Kesar
Karnataka
Alphonso, Bangalora, Neelum, Mallika
Tamil Nadu
Alphonso, Banganapalli, Neelum
Uttar Pradesh
Bombay green, Dashehari, Langra,
Maharashtra Alphonso, Kesar, Ratna Application of fertilizer in UHDP The recommended fertilizer dose for UHDP Mango in soil having medium nutrient content is given below. Table No. 2: Fertigation schedule and quantity (Kg/Dose/Year) Age Month Number of doses Urea H3PO4 1 year 2nd year 3rd year
MOP
MgSO4
July- Sept
12
1.4
0.5
0.8
0.000
Jan – May
20
1.7
0.6
0.9
0.000
July- Sept
12
2.7
1.2
2.3
0.278
Jan – May
20
1.7
0.7
1.4
0.167
June- Aug
12
1.4
1.2
1.5
0.000
Jan- May 4 3.2 1.2 4.6 0.333 Training and pruning When the plant height reaches 45-60cm, the terminal bud should be pinched at 5-6cm below the apex to encourage growth of auxiliary bud. Pruning is very essential and critical operation of UHDP to maintain fruiting shoots and to contain canopy. Pruning must be done as soon as after harvest preferably before 15 th June in central and southern India. Tertiary branches have to be headed back in such way that the plant height can be maintained at 1.5 m and having 10-15 tertiary shoots. Cut ends needs to be applied with Bordeaux paste or 2 % copper oxychloride (COC) suspension. About one month after pruning, thinning of newly emerged shoots is essential to avoid excess shoots and overcrowding. Benefits of UHDP in mango 1. Increases productivity up to 2-3 times 2. Reduces water used for irrigation up to 50 % 3. Increases fertilizer uptake by plants when fertigation is practised. Advantages of Ultra high density planting system of mango Traditional Medium density Particulars 40 trees/acre (200trees/acre)
Ultra high density (674trees/acre)
Gestation period (years)
10-15
5
3
Yield potential
Medium
High
Very high
Pruning
Very difficult
Manageable
Easy
Spray operation
Difficult
Manageable
Easy
Contributed by: Basavaraj Magadum1 1 Msc Horticulture RVSKVV Gwalior Coh Mandsaur 458001 (MP)