Mango tree spacing trends and options for yield improvement with special reference to South Africa.
Oosthuyse S. A.
Author Affiliation: Merensky Technological Services, PO Box 14, Duivelskloof 0835, South Africa.
Journal of the Southern African Society for Horticultural Sciences 3 : 92-96
Abstract : Mango yields worldwide are generally poor, ranging from 4 to 9 t/ha in the major producing countries. This is partly attributable to wide tree spacings, which are traditionally based on expected eventual tree size. Little consideration is generally given to canopy size maintenance once overcrowding eventually occurs. Yields for more closely spaced trees of well managed orchards in Florida and Puerto Rico, where annual or biennial hedging is employed to maintain canopy size, generally exceed 20 t/ha. Recent studies show the marked positive effect on yield of radically increasing planting density. High density planting is discussed with reference to optimum tree spacings, canopy size maintenance, and pruning of young trees to improve growth rate, tree sturdiness and cropping ability at the time of first bearing.