Improvement of yield and fruit quality of neglected mango orchards in Yen Chau, Son La Pham Thi Huong Hanoi University of Agriculture
1. Introduction Son La Yen Chau
Advantages for mango production Warmer climate-higher initial fruit set Mango one of important cash crops with two local high- quality cultivars Tron and Hoi Traditional commercial mango growing area in the North.
Why low income? Low yield, poor external fruit quality, low price High canopy, propagation by seed No fertilizer application No pest control Rainfed orchards Hails, dry and hot westerly wind Old orchards Poor marketing
Mango trees in Yen Chau
Mango fruits seriously infected by Anthracnose, powdery mildew and fruit flies
How to improve income? Improve cultural practice and orchard management Technology transfer to local growers Marketing of products
Preharvest bagging Pest management Flower and fruit thinning Harvest and postharvest management Improve yield, external fruit quality Vegetative propagation Pruning, tree management Fertilization and irrigation
Objectives Improve yield and external fruit quality of neglected orchards through developing a system of low-input cultural practices suitable to local conditions. Participatory on-farm research and technology transfer to the local growers.
Research methodology Participatory on-farm experiments in 10 farmers 12-16 year-old orchards Local mango cultivars: Tron and Hoi. 2006-2007 in Tu Nang commune, Yen Chau district, Son la.
Research methodology (cont.) The research activities were: Post-harvest crown reduction pruning and pre-flowering thinning. Fertilizer and pesticide application. Pre-harvest bagging of fruits Post-harvest treatment of fruits with Ethrel for acceleration of fruit ripening.
Exp 1. Effects of post-harvest pruning and improved cultural practices on shoot growth Tron1 or Hoi1: (control) no pruning, extensive cultivation. Tron2 or Hoi2: Pruning +fertilization +pest control Tron3 or Hoi3: Pruning +fertilization +pest control + spraying of foliar chelated Pomior 0.4%.
Exp2. Effects of improved cultural practices on yield and fruit external quality Tron1 (control 1): with no pruning, extensive cultivation. Tron2: Pruned +intensive cultivation + preharvest fruit bagging Hoi1 (control 2): with no pruning, extensive cultivation. Hoi2: Pruned +intensive cultivation + preharvest fruit bagging
Epx 3.Effects of pre-harvest bagging and Ethrel treatment on fruit external quality Tr1Tron: no bagging + no Ethrel treatment Tr2 Hoi: no bagging + no Ethrel treatment Tr3 Tron: bagged fruits + 0,4 % ethrel Tr4 Hoi: bagged fruits + 0,4 % ethrel Dipped fruits in to 0.4 % of Ethrel during 20 minutes
Pruning neglected trees
The tree pruned in July 2006 Bagged fruits
Fig.1. Fruit setting Number of fruits/panicle 25 20 15 10 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Weeks after anthesis Tron1 Tron2 Hoi1 Hoi2
Table 1. Some yield and external fruit quality indicators in different treatments Indicator Unit Tron1 Tron2 Hoi1 Hoi 2 Percentage of % 100 100 100 100 flowering shoots in spring 2007 Fruit weight Gram 142,3a 174,0 b 242,1a 282,2b Computed yield Kg/tree 38,4a 120,6b 55,8a 158,9b Harvested yield Kg/tree 12,1a 25,4 b 15,1a 36,5b Fruits infected by % 100 22,3 100 35,4 diseases Fruits attacked by % 85,5 0 75,5 0 fruit flies External fruit score Max 4,9 8,5 4,5 8,8 point = 10
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Conclusions 1. Post-harvest pruning, pre-blooming thinning significantly reduced canopy height, improved light penetration through the trees making pest control more efficient,promoted shoot growth. improved fruit set,fruit size. 2. Pre-harvest bagging of fruits significantly reduced fruit drop,pest infection,improved fruit external quality
3. Artificial ripening of bagged fruits with 0.4 % solution of Ethrel made fruit ripe faster, more uniformly with better external quality, reduced weight loss, spoiled fruits infected by anthracnose and fruit flies during ripening. 4. Application of these cultural practices together on both mango Tron and Hoi cultivars increased yield by 2.1 and 2.4 times or net income by 2.8 and 3.5 times respectively).
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