Requirement of major nutrients for 'Alphonso' mango (Mangifera indica).
Reddy Y. T. N., Kurian R. M., Kohli R. R., Rao G. S. P., Ramachander P. R., Gorakhsingh
Author Affiliation: Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake, Bangalore, Karnataka 560?089, India.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 68 : 652-656
Abstract : A field experiment was conducted in Bangalore from 1977 to 1991 to determine the nutritional requirements of mango cv. Alphonso under rainfed conditions. The results indicated little influence of the continuous application of major nutrients on tree growth and fruit quality. About 100 g N, 170 g P2O5 and 80 g K2O/tree per year of tree age from the 3rd to the 10th orchard years with the continuation of the 10th year dose in subsequent years was found to be optimum for maximizing fruit yield. Since it was uneconomical to apply such high doses of P, other approaches were employed for the interpretation of the results. Second order equations involving the preceding year's fruit yield in addition to the nutritional effects were found useful to suggest precise nutrient recommendations for trees of different ages. Game theory analysis suggested nutrient recommendations for various categories of farmers based on risk taking capacity. A nutrient dose comprising 100 g N and 100 g K2O/tree per year of tree age between the 3rd and 10th orchard years and continuation of the 10th year dose thereafter was found to give maximum percentage returns over investment for all categories of farmers, irrespective of their risk taking abilities.