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Introduction
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Mango
is one of the most important fruits of India. It is
the choicest fruit and often known as the king of fruits.
It is grown in 39.16 per cent of the total area under
fruits and contributes to 23.09 percent of the total
fruit production in the country. The state Andhra Pradesh
ranks first with respect to area and production. However,
the state Karnataka has the highest productivity. In
West Bengal, it covers an area of 62,500 ha with the
average production of 0.380 mt and productivity of 6.1
mt/ha. Mango is a rich source of vitamin A and has a
fairly good content of vitamin C. It also contains a
good amount of minerals particularly potassium. Mango
fruits are used for preparation of pickle, chatani,
amchur, jam, squash, nectar and many other delicious
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Crop
varieties |
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Mango
(Mangifera indiaca L.) belongs to family Anacardiaceae.
In India, more than thousand varieties are grown in
different parts of the country. Most of the commercial
cultivars are characteristically specific to geographical
adoptation and their performance is satisfactory in
a particular region. Therefore, selection of varieties
for cultivation of mango should be based on their suitability
for a particular region. In West Bengal, Fazli, Gulabkhas,
Himsagar, Kishenbhog, Langra and Bombay Green varieties
are cultivated. Some hybrids like Amrapali, Mallika
and Pairy, Suvarnarekha also perform well in most of
the parts of the West Bengal. |
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Conventional
practices |
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In
most places local varieties are cultivated. Fertilization,
irrigation, weeding and hoeing are not practiced after
the plants attain maturity. Few farmers use Ring basin
method of surface irrigation and broadcasting method
of fertilizer application. Plant protection measures
are rarely adopted. |
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Suitable
agro climatic conditions |
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Mango
thrives well in tropical and sub-tropical climates.
The ideal temperature for the crop ranges from 240 to
300 C along with high humidity. Temperature below 100
C and above 420 C retards growth and adversely affects
the flowering time of mango. A cool and dry period,
which slows or stops the growth, is essential for flower
induction. Rainfall during the flowering period adversely
affects the fruit setting. Fog and cloudy weather at
the time of flowering from November to February also
result in poor setting of fruits and favours the pest
attack and diseases. |
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Suitable
soils |
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Mango
can be grown on a wide range of soils. However, deep
(1.75 to 2.0 m) and well drained soils are favourable
for its cultivation. The favourable soil pH varies from
5.5 to 7.5. |
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Preparation
of land |
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The
selected land is leveled and 75 to 100 cm deep pits
are dug during summer months. The pit is exposed for
2 to 4 weeks to kill the harmful soil organisms for
the healthy development of the plants. |
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Soil
sterilization |
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The
sterilization of the soil can be achieved by both physical
and chemical means. Physical control measures include
treatments with steam and solar energy. Chemical control
methods include treatments with herbicides and fumigants.
Soil sterilization can also be achieved by using transparent
plastic mulch film, which is termed as soil solarization.
During soil solarization, the incoming solar radiation
penetrates the transparent plastic film and is absorbed
in the soil. The absorbed radiation converts into heat
energy, which raises the soil temperature and kills
many soil-borne organisms including plant pathogens
and pests. |
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Planting |
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The
pits dug during summer are filled with 20-25 kg of well
decomposed FYM. All the sides of the pit walls are treated
with fungicide and also mixed with the soil to control
termite attack. The planting distance depends on the
vigor of the cultivar and location, varies from 4 m
to 10 m. The hybrid varieties of mango can be grown
on high plant density with spacing as close as 4 m x
4 m. The best time of planting is during monsoon months
or at the end of monsoon. |
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Drip
system requirements |
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Area: 1 ha,
Planting geometry: 5 m x 5 m.
Variable items: 63 mm ? PVC/HDPE pipe-102 m, 12mm ?
LDPE Lateral-2000 m, Online drippers (8 l/h)-800 Nos.,
Control valve-2 Nos., Flush valve-2 Nos., Tees/bends-1
No., Accessories.
Fixed items: Screen filter (15m3/ h)-1 No.,
Bypass assembly-1 No., Fertilizer applicator- 1 No.,
Accessories.
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Irrigation
scheduling |
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The
daily water requirement of mango varies from 28 to 85
l/d/plant. The total annual water requirement of the
crop is 6400 m3/ha for the planting geometry of 5 m
x 5 m. Soil moisture stress from end November to end
January is recommended for good flowering. Regular irrigation
during fruit setting and development period reduces
fruits drop considerably. |
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Advantages
of drip irrigation |
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Saves water.
Enhances plant growth and yield.
Saves energy and labour.
Most suited for soil having low water holding capacity
and undulating terrain.
Reduces weed growth.
Improves fertilizer application efficiency.
Improves quality of produce.
Reduces salt concentration in the root zone
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Application
of fertilizers |
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Phosphorus
should be applied twice a year i.e. at the beginning
(June-July) and end (September-October) of monsoon season.
Nitrogenous and potassic fertilizers are usually applied
in split doses in June-July, September-October, January-February
and March-April. For adult mango trees (10 years or
above) 1 kg N, 1.5 kg P2O5, 1 kg K2O and 100 kg FYM
per year should be applied. Application of micronutrients
such as Zinc and Boron helps the cell elongation process
and increases the total sugar, ascorbic acid and total
solid contents of the fruit pulp.
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Weed
control |
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Mango
orchard should be completely free from weeds. In order
to control weeds, shallow hoeing at quarterly interval
should be done. Black plastic mulch should be used to
restrict the germination of weed seeds and suppression
of weed growth |
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Intercropping |
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In
the initial four years the mango orchard can be intercropped
with vegetable species and short duration fruit crops
viz; Tomato, Carrot, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Methi, Onion,
Ginger, Papaya, Pineapple etc. |
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Plant
protection |
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Mango crop suffers seriously from the pests: hopper,
mealy bug, fruit fly, shoot and stem borer and stone
weevil. The Hoppers are most devasting during flowering
period as they suck the sap from tender shoots, leaves
and panicles. Spray of 0.05% Carbaryl (Sevin) or 0.04%
Monocrotophos (Nuvacron) has been recommended as the
protection measure from Hoppers.
Mealy bug sucks the sap and causes drying of plant
parts that result in immature fruit drop. Banding
of trunk in the month of November-December with slippery
bands of polyethylene sheet or application of mixture
of grease and coaltar has been recommended. Digging
the soil around the mango trunk during hot summer
and cleaning of the weeds are recommended as control
measures.
Mango aphids do harm mango plants during flowering
period. Spray of 0.05% Phosphamidon has been found
to be effective for the control of aphids.
Damage by Stem borer is caused by grub of its beetle
as it feeds inside the stems, boring upward that result
in drying of branches and stem. Application of emulsion
of Monocrotophos (0.05%) or DDVP (0.05%) has been
recommended as the control measure from the stem borer.
Stone weevils lay eggs on the epicarp of partially
developed fruits or under the ring of ripening fruits.
Newly emerged grubs of the stem weevils bore through
the pulp, feed on the seed coat and subsequently cause
damage to cotyledons. Spray of (0.01%) Fenthion concentration
has been found effective for the control of stem weevils.
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Harvesting,
yield and quality control |
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An
average yield of 150-225 marketable fruits (50 kg) per
plant per year may be expected from a well grown mango
tree. Mature green fruits are harvested with 8-10 mm
long stalks to prevent sap burn and undesired spots
on the ripened fruits. The best way to decide maturity
in mango fruit is the colour of the pulp, which turns
cream to light yellow on maturity and hardening of stone. |
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Post
harvest handling and storage |
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After
harvesting the mango fruits are graded according to
their size, weight, colour and maturity. Packaging of
fruits should be done in corrugated fiberboard (CFB)
boxes. Polyethylene lining has been found beneficial
as it maintains humidity, which results in lesser shrinkage
during storage. The mature green fruits can be kept
at room temperature for 4 to 10 days depending upon
the variety. Pre-cooling, chemical treatments, low temperature
etc. extend shelf life of fruit. Fruits of Dashahari,
Amrapali, Mallika should be stored at 12 oC with relative
humidity of 85 to 90%. Dashahari treated with Calcium
chloride solution (4%) at sub-atmospheric pressure of
500 mm Hg for 5 minutes can be stored at 12 oC for 27
days. |
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Cost
economics |
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Area: 1
ha, Planting geometry: 5 m x 5 m
Fixed cost of drip system: Rs. 30,298
Rate of interest: 10.5%
Life of system: 7.5 Years
Annual cost of drip system: Rs. 8,713
Cost of cultivation: Rs. 24,000
Expected yield: 19 t/ha
Expected Benefit-Cost ratio: 6.0
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Contact
Address |
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Dr. K. N. Tiwari
Professor & Principal Investigator
Precision Farming Development Centre
Agricultural & Food Engineering Department
IIT Kharagpur (W.B.) 721 302
Tel: 03222-283150 (O)/ 283151 (R)
Fax: 03222-282244 / 255303 (O)
Email: kamlesh@agfe.iitkgp.ernet.in,
pfdc_kharagpur@yahoo.com
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