MANGOE AGRONOMY (Mangifera indica)
MANGOES (MANGIFERA INDICA)
It is most widely distributed fruit in Uganda. Mango does well in areas which are too dry for other crops like oranges
Propagation
Fresh seeds are used to propagate root stalks and the seeds should be extracted from fruits. Dry seeds don’t germinate, so in order to speed up the germination process, the kennel is cut off and the seed is removed from fibrous coating.
Plant with the concave side facing downwards.
Two types of seeds exists
One is as result of fertilization thus will give rise to zygote seedlings.
The other will give rise to many young seedlings thus is described as poly embryonic and can be used to maintain characteristics, so are not a result of fertilization but are as a result of Apomixes. Germination of seeds takes about 20 days and reaches length of 6 inches in 6 to 8 weeks and they will be 9 to 10 inches in about 10 to 12 weeks.
Improved cultivators are propagated by grafting. There are different methods of grafting including Whip and Tongue Graft.
Cleft Graft. Cleft grafting attaches a less hardy scion variety to a hardy rootstock, changing the variety of the plant.
Side Veneer Graft.
Bark Graft.
In mango, old leaves can be changed to better cultivators by Edge grafting. Grafted trees bear in about 2 years. In mangoes, propagating cuttings are not used because they do not develop a proper root system.
Dwarfing is a required characteristic for easy management of mango tree and this is done by double grafting. Double grafting is advantageous because it induces easy fruit formation.There are also some naturally occurring dwarf varieties like Julie, manzo and hilaza. Varieties of cultivars which have a dwarf effect if used as rootstalks like hilaza.
Fruiting, flowering and fruit setting
Mango trees grow steadily propagation and, within 2-3 years, they will start flowering. Inflorescence is a particle. Mangoes will produce plenty of flowers but most of them will drop. Mango is an insect pollinated flower but its flower is not very attractive to insects.
Reasons for fruit drop
Poor pollination because of poor insect population visiting flowers.
Ovary abortion, pollination may occur but the ovary aborts due to a number of factors e.g. disease, or it can be caused by insect midge which attacks the
pistil of the flower in the in the mangoes thus cause fruit drop. High humidity and heavy rains during that stage also reduces fruit set. Mango is not suitable where rainfall occurs during rainfall peaks.
Mango trees are self compatible and self fertilised and self fertilisation by pollen from same flower is possible
Natural causes i.e. lack of enough hormones to make the fruits stick after pollination can be overcomes by use of natural hormones e.g. acetic acid called post blossom spray, Zink naphthalene. This prevents embryo abortion and so more fruits can be retained
After successful pollination, fruit set and fruit development is quite rapid and for most varieties, fruits mature between 12 to 30 weeks after flowering or pollination.
Other cultivation practices
Dig holes 60cm deep and 90cm wide
Mix a tin full of decomposed manure with the separated top soil and put it back to cover 30cm down
Transplant at the start of the rains
Spacing
Mangoes are spaced depending on rainfall pettern and soil fertility.
Using spacing of 10m by 10m gives us 52 plants per acre for high rainfall and fertile soils
and 8m by 8m giving us 80 plants per acre in areas of relatively low rainfall and less fertile
Pruning and training
Pruning aims at removing all side shoots, all branches arising from ground upto a height of about 18 inches
Pruning also aims at removing multiple stems. A mango tree looks better with a single main stem with branches at same height above ground.
Pruning is also done to improve the appearance of the tree therefore the tree may be topped at the end of the year to improve accessibility during spray and harvesting. Height is about 10 – 14 ft to divide by 3.
Dry weather stimulates flowering and rain discourages insect pollination. Where plantations are established, beehives need to be introduced in the garden at a rate of 3-6 beehives per ha in order to make the population of pollinators.
Fertilisers
Mangoes require high amounts of nitrogen fertiliser especially during the early years but after they have started bearing, then demand is higher for phosphates and potash. At the moment, there are no actual qualities and high yields, additional nutrients are required.
Pest sand diseases
Fruit fly is the most serious pest and bores into the fruit.
There are also some insects that pierce the mangoes especially young ones these resemble cotton Steiner, and after it begin to dry, ovary aborts and fruit drops.
Powdery mildew
Anthracnose
Spots on fruits
Control
Try to pick and destroy all fruits that fall on the ground
Using of fruit traps Spraying of fungicides at the right time and right doses. The whole tree may be sprayed in mixture of insecticides and fungicides to control weevils.
Harvesting
Mango fruits reach maturity 4 to 5 months after flowering . Colour will change according to the cultivar e.g. Reddish, purple colour at base etc
During harvesting, avoid bruising fruits. Lower fruits harvested by hands. Those on trees with a big and a long paddle so that they do not fall because they bruise and this affects ripening yield varies according to cultivar and age of the tree. Yield ranges from 200 to 1000 fruits. In Uganda, average yield is 10 metric tonnes per ha. Improved cultivar yields 15 metric tonnes per ha. Yields from other countries is 18 MT per ha
Fruits after picking should be washed immediately, sap washed off. Then, grading should be done hence ready for market.
It is most widely distributed fruit in Uganda. Mango does well in areas which are too dry for other crops like oranges
Propagation
Fresh seeds are used to propagate root stalks and the seeds should be extracted from fruits. Dry seeds don’t germinate, so in order to speed up the germination process, the kennel is cut off and the seed is removed from fibrous coating.
Plant with the concave side facing downwards.Two types of seeds exists
One is as result of fertilization thus will give rise to zygote seedlings.
The other will give rise to many young seedlings thus is described as poly embryonic and can be used to maintain characteristics, so are not a result of fertilization but are as a result of Apomixes. Germination of seeds takes about 20 days and reaches length of 6 inches in 6 to 8 weeks and they will be 9 to 10 inches in about 10 to 12 weeks.
Improved cultivators are propagated by grafting. There are different methods of grafting including Whip and Tongue Graft.
Cleft Graft. Cleft grafting attaches a less hardy scion variety to a hardy rootstock, changing the variety of the plant.
Side Veneer Graft.
Bark Graft.
In mango, old leaves can be changed to better cultivators by Edge grafting. Grafted trees bear in about 2 years. In mangoes, propagating cuttings are not used because they do not develop a proper root system.
Dwarfing is a required characteristic for easy management of mango tree and this is done by double grafting. Double grafting is advantageous because it induces easy fruit formation.There are also some naturally occurring dwarf varieties like Julie, manzo and hilaza. Varieties of cultivars which have a dwarf effect if used as rootstalks like hilaza.
Fruiting, flowering and fruit setting
Mango trees grow steadily propagation and, within 2-3 years, they will start flowering. Inflorescence is a particle. Mangoes will produce plenty of flowers but most of them will drop. Mango is an insect pollinated flower but its flower is not very attractive to insects.
Reasons for fruit drop
Poor pollination because of poor insect population visiting flowers.
Ovary abortion, pollination may occur but the ovary aborts due to a number of factors e.g. disease, or it can be caused by insect midge which attacks the
pistil of the flower in the in the mangoes thus cause fruit drop. High humidity and heavy rains during that stage also reduces fruit set. Mango is not suitable where rainfall occurs during rainfall peaks.
Mango trees are self compatible and self fertilised and self fertilisation by pollen from same flower is possible
Natural causes i.e. lack of enough hormones to make the fruits stick after pollination can be overcomes by use of natural hormones e.g. acetic acid called post blossom spray, Zink naphthalene. This prevents embryo abortion and so more fruits can be retained
After successful pollination, fruit set and fruit development is quite rapid and for most varieties, fruits mature between 12 to 30 weeks after flowering or pollination.
Other cultivation practices
Dig holes 60cm deep and 90cm wide
Mix a tin full of decomposed manure with the separated top soil and put it back to cover 30cm down
Transplant at the start of the rains
Spacing
Mangoes are spaced depending on rainfall pettern and soil fertility.
Using spacing of 10m by 10m gives us 52 plants per acre for high rainfall and fertile soils
and 8m by 8m giving us 80 plants per acre in areas of relatively low rainfall and less fertile
Pruning and training
Pruning aims at removing all side shoots, all branches arising from ground upto a height of about 18 inches
Pruning also aims at removing multiple stems. A mango tree looks better with a single main stem with branches at same height above ground.
Pruning is also done to improve the appearance of the tree therefore the tree may be topped at the end of the year to improve accessibility during spray and harvesting. Height is about 10 – 14 ft to divide by 3.
Dry weather stimulates flowering and rain discourages insect pollination. Where plantations are established, beehives need to be introduced in the garden at a rate of 3-6 beehives per ha in order to make the population of pollinators.
Fertilisers
Mangoes require high amounts of nitrogen fertiliser especially during the early years but after they have started bearing, then demand is higher for phosphates and potash. At the moment, there are no actual qualities and high yields, additional nutrients are required.Pest sand diseases
Fruit fly is the most serious pest and bores into the fruit.
There are also some insects that pierce the mangoes especially young ones these resemble cotton Steiner, and after it begin to dry, ovary aborts and fruit drops.
Powdery mildew
Anthracnose
Spots on fruits
Control
Try to pick and destroy all fruits that fall on the ground
Using of fruit traps Spraying of fungicides at the right time and right doses. The whole tree may be sprayed in mixture of insecticides and fungicides to control weevils.
Harvesting
Mango fruits reach maturity 4 to 5 months after flowering . Colour will change according to the cultivar e.g. Reddish, purple colour at base etc
During harvesting, avoid bruising fruits. Lower fruits harvested by hands. Those on trees with a big and a long paddle so that they do not fall because they bruise and this affects ripening yield varies according to cultivar and age of the tree. Yield ranges from 200 to 1000 fruits. In Uganda, average yield is 10 metric tonnes per ha. Improved cultivar yields 15 metric tonnes per ha. Yields from other countries is 18 MT per ha
Fruits after picking should be washed immediately, sap washed off. Then, grading should be done hence ready for market.
BY WANDERA S ALEXANDER
Agroforestry Tecncraf
African Food Security and Climate Army (AFSCA)
Fika Afrika Advocacy Foundation(Creating Solutions For Africa)
Tel: +256773545347/+256704952509
alexanderwander14@gmail.com
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