PERFORMANCE OF SOME INDIAN AND EXOTIC MANGO CULTIVARS UNDER HIGH DENSITY PLANTING IN ARID CONDITIONS OF GUJARAT (INDIA)

One of the biggest mango plantations in Asia consisting of 81000 trees was established at Jamnagar in Gujarat State under arid agroclimate.
High density planting of Kesar cultivar with 666 plants/ha was done from 1998 to 2000. In every tenth row, 16 other commercial Indian and eight exotic cultivars were planted as pollinizers.
Five rows of casuarina along the periphery and at 250m interval protects the plantation from high velocity winds from seaside.
Entire mango plantation is under fertigation.
Paclobutrazol is being applied from the 4^th year of age.
The growth, flowering and fruiting performance of entire mango plantation is being monitored and recorded.
The flowering and fruiting started from 2001 season.
The flowering was excellent.
Numerous honeybees and flies were observed during flowering leading to high fruitset.
The mango hoppers and powdery mildew were totally absent during flowering.
The data on growth, flowering and fruiting during the 4^th year of age are presented and discussed.
Growth and fruiting was maximum in Maya followed by Tommy Atkins.
Amongst Indian cultivars growth and fruiting was maximum in Kesar.
The fruits were spotless in all the varieties.
No spongy tissue was detected in Alphonso fruits.
The problems like bark cracking are highlighted.
This unique mango plantation is likely to revolutionize mango production and productivity in India

VII International Mango Symposium

R.T. Gunjate, A.R. Kumbhar, I.M. Thimaiah, S.M. Amin

Kesar, pollinizers, fertigation, paclobutrazol, exotic cultivars, productivity

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.645.42