Long-term effects of nitrogen on growth, leaf-nutrient status and fruit yield of 'Totapuri' mango (Mangifera indica).
Reddy Y. T. N., Kumar R. M., Gorakh Singh, Raghupati H. B.
Author Affiliation: Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, Karnataka 560 089, India.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 73 : 206-208
Abstract : The results of a 15-year-old field trial on the effect of nitrogen on mango (Mangifera indica) cv. Totapuri indicated that nitrogen application (50 or 100 g plant-1 year-1 of age) significantly influenced the tree growth (4.65 m), leaf-nutrient status (1.56%) and fruit yield (47.1 kg/plant) of Totapuri trees grown under rainfed condition. Nitrogen at 50 g tree-1 year-1 of age resulted in the best canopy growth and development and gave the maximum fruit yield of 135 kg/plant during the 15th year of planting. Maximum mean cumulative fruit yield of 47.1 kg/plant was obtained with 50 g N plant-1 year-1 of age, whereas the least with 400 g N plant-1 year-1 of age (30.3 kg/plant) as well as 0 g N plant-1 year-1 of age (31.2 kg/plant). Tree growth and fruit yield were very poor in the absence of nitrogen as well as with very heavy rates of nitrogen. Application of nitrogen increased the mean leaf-nutrient status of nitrogen but no trend was observed for mean leaf phosphorus and leaf potassium.