Effect of Pruning and Chemicals on Flowering and Fruit Yield in Mango Cv. Alphonso

Abstract

A field trial was conducted from 2005 to 2009 on pruning and spray of various chemicals to study their effects on flowering and fruit yield in 'Alphonso' mango, at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore. Seven treatments were imposed, with pruning of fruited shoots as a common treatment, followed by chemical sprays and a control. Over the five years, flowering parameters (% vegetative, dormant or flowering shoots) were found to be non-significant among different treatments. Treatments increased fruit yield compared to control. The best treatment was T₃ (Pruning+1% K₂HPO₄+1% KNO₃ spray) which recorded mean fruit yield of 63.9 kg/plant, compared to a fruit yield of 33.0 k/ plant in control.