Revitalization of Overcrowded and Unproductive Mango (Mangifera indica L. cv ‘Dashehari’) Orchard Through Better Light Interception via Canopy Management
摘要
To revive the productivity of unproductive and overcrowded high-density plantation of mango cv ‘Dashehari’ planted at 2.5 × 2.5 m (S1) and 2.5 × 5.0 m (S2), an experiment was carried out at the ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, UP, India, involving pruning heights—severely pruned (P1) = 1.5 m; moderately pruned (P2) = 2.0 m; lightly pruned (P3) = 2.5 m from ground—and mulching (M1 = organic mulching and M2 = control). Findings showed that canopy volume from 2019 to 2021 was significantly higher in S2 (16.19, 17.45 and 26.84 m3 respectively). The interaction effects were found to be significant, with the maximum canopy volumes (30.56 m3) in S2P3M2, flowering (98%) recorded in the S2P1M2 treatment, while the maximum fruit numbers (68 fruit/tree) were in S2P1M2. Moreover, the fruit yield (18.53 kg/tree) and yield efficiency (1.41 kg fruit/m3 canopy volume) were higher in S2P1M1 over the study years. Maximum ‘A’ grade fruit (84.33%) were recorded in S1P2M2. Findings suggested that in order to revitalise the old high-density planting mango orchard and have higher yields, it is necessary to plant the trees at a spacing of 2.5 × 5.0 m (S2) with regular containment pruning at 2.0 m height. This allows for better light interception in the canopy and also protects the trees from infestation of pest and diseases thus ensuring optimum yield.