Effect of Different Levels of Beheaded Heights and Foliar Spray of Micronutrients on Flowering and Fruiting Attributes of Mango cv. Amrapali under High Density Planting

Abstract

Mango plants grown under high-density planting show a progressive decline in yield after 10-11 years of planting due to overcrowding of branches. To overcome this problem rejuvenation of the orchard is generally recommended with modification of nutrients through the soil and foliar spray to increase the fruit yield. But which beheaded height is suitable for rejuvenation of plants under the high density of mango is not standardized. So this experiment was conducted to find out the effect of different levels of beheaded heights and, foliar spray of micronutrients on flowering and fruiting attributes of mango cv. Amrapali during 2019-20 and 2020-21 at the Department of Horticulture and Postharvest Technology, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal, India. Six different beheaded height viz. T1- 80cm, T2-100 cm, T3-120 cm, T4-140 cm, T5-160 cm, and T6-180 cm and, two foliar sprays of micronutrients (just before flowering and fruiting) were taken as treatment. The experiment was designed in split-plot with three replication. Days to flowering, days to 50 % flowering, days to fruit set, number of panicles per plant, length of panicles, fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, fruit volume, pulp weight, stone weight, peel weight and pulp stone ratios were taken for observation. It was found that different levels of beheaded height and foliar spray of micronutrients had a significant effect on flowering and fruiting attributes. Plant beheaded at 80 cm height from ground level showed early days to flowering, days to 50 % flowering, days to fruit set, including the highest number of panicles per plant, the largest panicles length, maximum fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, fruit volume, pulp weight, and pulp stone ratio. Foliar spray of 0.4% Zinc Sulphate, Copper Sulphate (0.2%), Borax (0.2%) [2 sprays at just before flowering and marble stage] was found to have a significant effect on flowering and fruiting attributes except for pulp stone ratio. Interaction of different levels of beheaded height and foliar spray of micronutrients showed a significant effect on flowering and fruiting attributes. Early days to flowering, 50 % flowering, fruit set, number of panicles per plant, panicles length, fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, fruit volume, pulp weight, and pulp stone ratio was recorded highest in T1 F2  (plant beheaded at 80 cm height with foliar spray of 0.4% Zinc Sulphate, Copper Sulphate (0.2%), Borax (0.2%). It can be concluded that a plant beheaded at 80 cm height with foliar spray of 0.4% Zinc Sulphate + Copper Sulphate (0.2%) + Borax (0.2%) [2 sprays just before flowering and marble stage] can produce higher fruit yield in terms of maximum fruit weight, fruit size, fruit volume with early flowering and fruiting.