Growth, flowering and pruning of high density plantations mangoes under different treatments.
Avilan L., Marin R. C., Rodriguez M., Ruiz J.
Author Affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Agrícolas (INIA), Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (CENIAP), Instituto de Investigaciones Agronómicas (IIA), Zona Universitaria, vía El Limón, Maracay 2101, Estado Aragua, Apdo. 4653, Venez
Agronomía Tropical (Maracay) 51 : 29-47
Abstract : In the north-central region of Venezuela in the Tropical Dry Forest, a trial was established during 1996 with 5-year-old mango trees. The effect of pruning at 2 m height, soil application of paclobutrazol (PBZ) at 2.5 ml (a.i./tree) and flowering promoter KNO3 at 6% on the vegetative growth, flowering and yield of mango cultivars Haden, Tommy Atkins, Springfels and Edward grafted on Criollo was investigated. The treatments comprised Checker (T), Checker + PBZ (TPBZ), pruning (P), pruning + PBZ (PPBZ), pruning + lateral branches pruning (PL), and pruning + pruning of internal primary branches (PE). Observations were recorded for increase in canopy volume, flowering percentage and yield expressed as fruit number per tree and kg per tree. Statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences among the cultivars, treatments and the interaction cultivars × treatments. The yields (t/ha) for the cycles 1996-97 and 1997-98 with 6-7-year-old trees for the different treatments were 19.29 (T), 22.69 (TPBZ), 11.89 (P), 13.52 (PPBZ), 8.52 (PL) and 11.13 (PE).