References on Mango

Moutounet B., Aubert B., Gousseland J., Tiaw-Chan P., Payet O., Joson J.

Abstract : The rooting pattern was studied in 4- to 5-year-old avocado cv. Black Round (from seed), litchi cv. Kwai-mi (layered), mandarin cv. Daney (grafted on Troyer rootstocks), mango cvs Maisonrouge and Carotte (from seed) and guava cv. Pink Indian (from seed). The trees were growing in a very porous, volcanic soil, characteristic of the Bassin-Martin research station; the humus-bearing horizon was about 20 cm deep, the B horizon very deep (50-80 cm). The trees were irrigated regularly, without sprinklers, to overcome an average water deficit of 600 mm/year. Root observation trenches were dug and the root distribution sideways and to a depth of 80 cm is shown diagrammatically. The trenches were spiral, beginning near the trunk and progressing outwards in a logarithmic curve [see HcA 44, 8144]. Cyclone damage is common in the region and thus root anchorage is of major importance in young fruit trees. The strongest anchorage, determined mathematically, was shown by guava, followed by avocado and mandarin. Litchi and mango were apparently weakly anchored; the sideways extension of the roots was little greater than the width of the tree crown, in marked contrast to the root spread in guava.