Jan , 2022, Volume : 3 Article : 4

Judicious Management of Mango orchard in Doon valley

Author : Shailendra Kumar Yadav, Mudit Mishra and M Sankar

ABSTRACT

Mango is a subtropical fruit cultivated on large scale in the Doon valley of Uttarakhand. Nowadays cost of cultivation of mango is increasing day by day due to increase in cost of agri-inputs like pesticides, nutrient fertilizers, plants and shortage of human resource. This changing scenario demands modification in the package of practices for mango cultivation to obtain maximum yield from minimum inputs and further need to expand the availability of fresh mango fruit in the market and rationalise the mango price to the grower. This article is based on the experiences of the authors engaged in managing mango orchards of the Research Farm of Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun which consists of several mango cultivars namely Mallika, Amrapali, Dashehari and Bombay Green.

Keywords: management, mango, disease

In the present scenario, Mango cultivar, Dashehari has maximum acreage in the region followed by cultivar Langra and Chausa. The cultivar Dashehari is an early bearer which ripens between mid-June to mid-July hence most of the mango crop arrives in the market during this one month time and create gluts which ultimately reduce the price in the market. To overcome this situation it is recommended to grow mid and late cultivars along with Dashehari. For mid-season crop cultivars Langra and Bombay Green are suitable whereas for the late season crops cultivars like Mallika and Chausa are found suitable in the region.

Planting technique

Field selected for the establishment of an orchard should be cleaned properly followed by deep ploughings and planking. Demarcate the planting points as per the recommended spacing for selected cultivars. For high density plantation, spacing of 4m×4m is suitable which may be widened to 8m×8m by removing every alternate plant and row. Stones are quite abundant in the soils of this region, therefore, it is recommended to dugout 1 cubic meter (1m×1m×1m) pits at planting points, in the first week of May and remove the stones from the soil. Add approximately 50 kg well decomposed farmyard manure with stone free soil and allow sun exposure for at least 15 days. In the first fortnight of June add approximately 1 Kg NPK and if soil have problems of termites and grubs also add 40gm Phorate-10G in the soil just before filling the pits. Now, fill the pit up to 25 cm above the ground level, which may settled down to field level after compaction. If irrigation facility is available, give one deep irrigation in the filled pits to settle down the soil.

The plants should be planted just after onset of monsoon, Care should be taken to keep graft union at least 15 to 20 cm above the ground level. Deep irrigation should be done after plantation and it should be repeated after every 3 to 5 days depending upon the prevailing moisture condition and rainfall. After proper establishment of plant, irrigation frequency can be reduced judiciously.

 Basin making

Doon valley receives an average rainfall of approximately 2000mm, which is mostly confined between second fortnights of June to the end of the September. July and August are the wettest month in the region during which water induced soil and nutrient erosion is always a matter of concern whereas, October to June months are mostly dry, during which orchards demand several supplemental irrigations.

Keeping above facts in the mind, basin irrigation is prevalent in the region. It is observed that most of the orchardists are making faulty basins, which cause accumulation of rain /irrigation water near the tree trunk and loosen the anchorage of the tree which ultimately causes severe damage during wind storms. A standard method of making tree basins is explained in the fig. 1. (See PDF copy)

Weed Management

Prevalence of high precipitation, favourable temperature and humidity make ambience of Doon valley suitable for wide range of a weed species. Therefore, weed management is always a difficult task in the region particularly during rainy season. Under such conditions, a well-planned integrated weed management should be adopted. Considering all aspects following weed control practices are recommended for the region.

1. 4-5 Harrowing of interspace of mango orchards through tractor operated disc harrows each in the month February, July, August, September and December. In case of less weed infestation, December harrowing may be skipped. All care should be taken that mango roots should not get exposed or damaged due to closer harrowing.

2. Systemic weedicide like Glyphosate proved very effective in suppressing weed growth. Three sprays of 1% (10ml/litre water) Glyphosate is advised to apply over foliar portion of the weeds, each in the month of July, September and December.

3. Mulching of tree basin with biomass of uprooted grass and weeds should be done in the month of February. The thickness of mulching pad should be 15 cm thick and placed 45 cm away from the trunk under full grown tree. In young plants distance may be reduced accordingly to canopy area. This will add the organic matter in the soil; reduce watering frequency and quality of produce.

 Canopy Management

                A climatic condition of Doon valley is very suitable for vegetative growth of mango trees that is why trees gain good height and canopy within short span of time. Uncontrolled vegetative growth develops dense and crisscross branching which ultimately becomes permanent shelter for several harmful insects, pests and diseases. To overcome this situation regular training and pruning should be adopted.

 a. Training: It is advised to train mango trees in accordance to the Open Centre System. In this system, grafted seedlings are headed back at the height of 80 cm and 3 primary branches are allowed to develop in different directions in between 50 to 80cm height. When these branches attain length of 60 to 80 cm they again headed back at 40-50cm and 2 to 3 secondary branches are allowed to grow. When the secondary branches attained length of 50-60cm they again headed back and 2-3 tertiary branches are allowed to grow and form dome shape canopy (fig. 2). Branching orientation should have 60 degree angle. Upright growing branches should train toward 60-70 degree. Central portion of the tree canopy should always keep open to facilitate ventilation and solar interception. Central opening should be practiced every year by removing central leader branches. Well sharpen pruning saw should be used to cut the branches and always a slanted cut should be given as shown in fig. 3.

 

b. Pruning: Atmospheric humidity remains very high during monsoon season in the Doon valley therefore all the training and pruning operation in mango orchards is advised after the complete cessation of monsoon i.e. 2nd fortnight of September. Following principles should be followed while pruning the mango trees.

a. Remove all the crisscross, dead and diseased branches.

b. Arrangement of leaves should be maintained on top 1 meter width of the dome of the canopy. Inner branches of the canopy which are not getting proper sunlight should be removed (fig. 4).

c.  Apply Chaubattia/Bordeaux paste immediately after pruning of the branches.

d. Intensity of pruning should be maintained in such a way that approximately 20 percent of the sunlight reaches to the ground level and provide sun exposure to the orchard soil (fig. 5).

Nutrient Management, Mulching and Intercrop

It is recommended to apply organic manure in a single dose whereas inorganic fertilizers should be applied in two split doses i.e. in the month of July and October. The recommended blanket dose of manures and fertilizers for the Doon region are as follows.

Age of tree

FYM (Kg per tree)

June

Urea

N:P:K (12:32:16) g per tree

MOP (g per tree)

July

Oct.

July

Oct.

July

Oct.

1

10

70

70

63

63

50

50

2

20

140

140

126

126

100

100

3

30

210

210

189

189

150

150

4

40

280

280

252

252

200

200

5

50

350

350

257

257

250

250

6

60

420

420

378

378

300

300

7

70

490

490

441

441

250

250

8th year onward

80

560

560

504

504

400

400

Above dose may be further increased or decreased, depending upon soil test report.

In addition to above fertilizer a foliar application of 1 percent ZnSO4 in the first week of October is also recommended for controlling possible Zinc deficiency. All the inorganic fertilizers should be placed in 15-20cm deep bands, dugout between 1m away from the tree trunk and 50cm inside the canopy (fig. 6). Vegetative mulching of tree basin is also recommended to maintain moisture and weed suppression. Intercropping of leguminous crops like pea is also advocated in the orchard for initial juvenile phase (up to fifth year) of the orchards to get additional perk. Cultivation of green manure crops like Sanai and Dhaincha during Zaid season is also beneficial to add organic matter to the soil.

Integrated Disease and Pest Management

                Prevailing High atmospheric humidity in the region favours growth and development of several harmful insects-pests and diseases. Therefore, an integrated approach using biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools to suppress disease and pest population below economic threshold is advocated in the region. Based on long term observations following measures are recommended for the region.

Month

Management operations

February

· Slashing of weeds using brush cutter or swords

· Harrowing/ploughing between the interspace of the orchard (leaving tree basins intact

· Harrowing of the orchard and raking of soil inside the basins to damage eggs of soil born pests

March

· Remove termite colonies (if developed on tree trunk) and whitewashing of tree trunk up to 1.2 meter with a mixture of Lime + Water + Chloropyriphos (10Kg. + 40 litre + 1 litre respectively) (Singh et al., 2017)

· Spray Imidacloprid @ 0.4ml/litre and Dinocap 46EC @ 1ml/litre at pea size fruit stage. Avoid any pesticide spray during flowering

April

· Spray Carbendazim 50WP @ 1gm/litre

May

· Spray Imidaclorprid @ 0.4 ml/litre or Monocrotophos@ 1ml/litre or Domethoate @ 1ml/litre

· Placement of fruit fly trap of Methyl Eugenol (0.1%) + Malathion @ 1 trap every 20 trees

July

· Spray Imidachlorprid @ 0.4 ml/litre or Monicrotophos @ 1ml/litre or Domethoate @ 1ml/litre

August

· Remove dead, dried and crisscross branches in early and mid-season varieties

September

· Remove dead, dried and crisscross branches in late season varieties

December